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NINETEEN MONTHS 



A PRISONER OF WAR 



^n tlic ^anbs of t^c Rebels 



EXPERIENCE AT BELLE ISLE, 



mmmi mmm and andersoni^ille: 



SOME ITEMS WITH REFERENCE TO 



CA_PT. ^Y1J^Z, 




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MAP OF THE ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP, 
CALLED CAMP SUMTER. 



MILWAUKEE: 

STARR .V: SON, PRINTERS, 312 AND .314 EAST WATER STREET. 

1865. 



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BELLE ISLE, RICHMOND, DANVILLE 
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PREFACE. 

What was intended only for a newspaper article in the outset, has resulted 
in the production of this work, growing out of the following circumstances: 
While writing the article above mentioned, the writer was introduced to Mr. 
Pitt, the autlior of the accompanying Map, who had also been a prisoner of 
war nineteen months, and at his urgent solicitation ami for his benefit, the 
subject has been continued to its present proportions. 

Writing in a hurry and having to keep ahead of proof, there will be many 
things, of course open to criticism, but if the author has contributed anything 
which will interest the public and aid a fellow soldier, he is amply compensa- 
ted for his labor. 



Chapter I. 



THE WITCHES CAULDRON. 

•' P.lack Spirits and While, 
Bed Spirits, and Gray ; 
Mingle, mingle, mingle. 
Yon that mingle, maj-." 

The spirits who are described in the caption are not imagi- 
nary in the case of the hite rebellion. The}' Avere real charac- 
ters, and had their designs from the beginning of their political 
corner, each and every one of them. They were not so very 
great in numbers, but were in political influence, for the reason 
that men of talent could do a great deal better in any respect- 
able business, than they could in any political office or position. 
In fact it has been notorious for a great many years that if :i 
man accepted office, his honesty and integrity were at once a 
matter of discussion to say the least. 

Without regard to party or professed principles that the 
office holders North and South have understood that they were 
elected for the purpose of pay and plunder, and the perpetuation 
of poAver in their own precious hands. It is not strange that 
these controlling men soon got into a Avrangle among themselves, 
each one Avanted to be leader, each one the largest quantity of 
the spoils. These spirits exactly alike in principle divided into 
antagonistic parties, and yet each one had the same object in 
vicAV, namely to remove the bann of the Constitution and the 
laAvs Avhich stood in the Avay of their plundering schemes and 
designs. It is not intended by the Avriter to say that every 
office holder of the government Avas influenced by the motives 
indicated above, but that a very great many tvere. Those avIio 
discharged their duties faithfully under the trying circumstances 
in which they Avere placed, are entitled to the honor, esteem and 



6 

respect of every citizen of the United States. Of the planners 
and plotters of the overthrow of the Republic, no execration 
can be too great, no damnation too deep, whatever may have 
been their locality. 

They were the " Black spirits " and it is too strongly sus- 
pected that they were to be found in all latitudes of this Re- 
public at the breaking out of tlio war. They without hesitation 
plunged tliemselves into the Avitchos cauldron, no doubt thinking 
that the witch l)eing possessed of tlie devil like themselves 
would stir tlie ])ot in such a manner as to ])ring them out all 
right. 

Another class, ai'e those described alcove as discliarging tiieir 
duties faithfully under trying circumstances, men willing to 
sacrifice their all in what they believed to be right and for the 
good of their country. Tlioy went into the cauldron believing 
that right Avould bring them out all right, oi- at all events they 
were prepared f(n' the u'or»t in any emergency, 'i'he gray 
spirits being a mixture undecided in principles or opinions, 
went into the witches ketrlc in hopes that by the mixing, ming- 
ling and stirring they might bring themselves into some position 
in society which they knew well their talents or integrity did 
not entitle them to. When the witches wand was used, these 
heterogenous spirits did not mingle at all. 

The red spirits who pretended to go into the cauldron, but 
did not — might bo termed the Jacobins of the United States. 
They had no character or property to lose, but stood in the 
position of the man who wished that a passing steamer might 
blow up in order that he would be enabled to pick up some of 
the fragments of the wreck. They wanted war and blood, but 
never risked their carcases near a battle filed until the conflict 
was over and then tliey were the first to go and pick up the 
fragments. 

They were of the character of the bloody triumviate of Robes- 
piere, Murat and Dante, who could see the blood of their citi- 



zens by the gaillotinc lioatiii;^ tluoiigli the streets of Paris, ami 
pride themselves upon their success because it brought in one 
way and another money into their coffers. 

Immediately after the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presi- 
idency — without any just cause, without any good motive, 
the " black spirits" of the South inaugurated the rebellion. 
There had never been a President of the United States more fairly 
elected than Mr. Lincoln. The Southern people had gone to the 
polls and voted against him, and of course must acknowledge 
the fairness of the contest. They had submitted their case to 
the ballot box, under the constitution and the laws, and they 
were concluded by it. Mr. Lincoln had not yet given out his 
course of policy, and if he had, and that policy proved objec- 
tionable to the Southern leaders, all that they had to do was to 
remedy their wrong either real or imaginary in a constitu- 
tional and legal manner. But they chose to rebel and commit 
their traitorous, treasonable rebellious, overt acts to destroy the 
government. 

The results in the main are now matters of history, and all 
the peculiar facts with regard to horrors, suffering, devastation. 
The heroism, and patriotism of our soldiers are from day to day 
being brought to light, and will also soon become matters of 
history. To do our share in placing facts before the world, and 
aid in making up the history is to give the history of the cap- 
tivity of a fellow soldier, his sufferings and experience in the 
South during nineteen months imprisonment. The man who 
left a good situation to shoulder a musket as a private. A sac- 
rifice that was as great to him personally as that of any general 
connected with history of this war. 

James S. Anderson was born on a farm in Genesee County, 
N. Y. At the age of 15 years he was to be found in Michigan, 
some way connected with the laying the track of the Michigan 
Central Railroad. When the track was laid he took the position 
of fireman on the Engine. Went to Chicago in 1850, and fol- 



lowed one sort or anotlicr of* vailroadiii;^ two ycar^, and then 
came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; where he pursued the business 
of railroading, mainly on the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail- 
road, until the spring of the year 1856, Avhen he received the 
appointment of Locomotive Engineer, on the La Crosse and 
^Milwaukee Railroad, where he remained until he joined the 
army. He joined the 24th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, 
Co. F., August 21st, 1862, as a private, and Avas mustered in 
at the same time. 

Now what inducement could there be, excepting pure patriot- 
ism to induce a young man like Mr. Anderson to leave his posi- 
tion and go into the army at $18, per month ? He was receiv- 
ing a good salary and stood in an excellent place in the esteem 
of the company and others for promotion. There was no draft 
to fear, there was no inducement but to save the country. 

]Mr. Anderson is a stout built, over medium sized man, with 
great power of endurance displayed in every move he makes. 
Whether on business or fun, he gives his whole attention to it. 
He is popular with his employers because he never neglects his 
duty or comes in with excuses. He is jovial and full of fun on 
a frolic, but place him on duty and he has nothing to do Avith 
anything that is not connected w^ith his business. 

Anderson's muscle or strength is proverbial among those who 
know him. His cordiality seems to be e(pial to his strength. 
At one time on being introduced to a stranger, a railroad man 
like himself, they shook hands. Anderson, being perhaps, in a 
cordial mood, and perhaps, taking a fancy to his new made 
acquaintance, shook hands with an honest, well meant, and true 
cordiality, saying: " I have heard of you, glad to make your 
acquaintance. Stranger answered: " Oh ! I am happy to make 
your acquaintance, but for pity's sake don't squeeze my hand 
so hard." His great muscular strength arises undoubtedly, 
from his early and continued training in muscular pursuits, such 
as handling railroad iron, locomotives, etc., and may account in 



a measure for his living through his hard campaign as a prisoner. 
Anderson is unyielding, inflexible, and never forsook a friend 
or forgot a favor. 



Chapter II. 



THE DAYS WHEN WE WENT GYPSYING. 

On going into camp at Camp Sigel, Milwaulice, nearly every 
soldier enjoyed the change. In camping out there, the regiment 
seemed to be following the fashion of the Gypsies. Discipline, 
to be sure Avas introduced under our vigilant Colonel, as soon 
as possible, but that could not be done in an hour, a day, or in 
a Aveek. Many a fine fellow Avho thought, at Camp Sigel, that 
soldiering was one of the finest things in the world, soon after 
the celebrated campaign, under Gen. Buell, in pursuit of Bragg, 
found that Avhether soldiering had many attractions or not, de- 
pended very much upon what kind of a General Avas in command. 
Anderson Avent through that campaign and participated in the 
Perryville or Cluiplain Hills battle, Avent Avith the army to Crab 
' Orchard, Avhere Gen. Buell seemed to be placed in nearly the 
same position as that of the King of France, Avho 

" With seventy thousand men, 
Marched up the hill and then marched back again." 

Gen. Buell had 60,000 men wlien he started in pursuit of 
Bragg, from Louisville, Kentucky, and Avhen he started back on 
his track more than 10,000 Avere in hospital or their graves, 
Avith the lasting disgrace of letting Avhat might be called a. mere 
squad, hold our army in check at Perryville, while the rebels 
carted off the plunder Avhich they had been several months in 
collecting together. 

Anderson being intelligent and posted upon what was going 



10 

on, denounced with an almost indiscreet fury, the whole trans- 
action; but he seems determined to ahvays speak his mind. A 
great many of the officers and men did the same thing, but no 
one was court martialed or punished, because, probably. Gen. 
Buell had become aware of what was soon to be his own fate. 
When the army reached Nashville, Buell Avas removed and Gen. 
Rosencrans took command, and by him Avas fought the great 
battle of Stone River. 

Mr. Anderson was at his post in front and escaped withotu 
a wound. It may as well be remarked here that the 24th Reg- 
iment was a portion of the right wing, under command of Gen. 
Johnson, and that the brigade was under the command of Gen. 
Sill; and also, that the 24th Regiment did not leave the field 
until three acting brigade commanders were dead on the field, 
namely. Generals Sill, Roberts and Schafer. Nor did they 
retire until Johnson's right' had been completely turned with 
the loss of a great number of men, and 27 cannon and the ene- 
my commenced firing in the rear, which they gained through 
Gen. Johnson's culpable negligence. This occurred on Wednes- 
day, the 31st of December, but on the Friday following, by a 
stragetic move, Gen. Rosencrans, driven almost to the last ex- 
tremity, drew the enemy into a snare and gained his victory. 

The 24th Regiment remained in or near jNIurfreesboro until 
the 24th of June, 1863, and then started on the Tullahoma 
Campaign. Their business at Murfreesboro was only fortifying, 
picketing and foraging. In this march the Union army reached 
Cowan, sixty or sixty-five miles, on the 3d day of July. The 
object was to give the rebel Gen. Bragg battle. In the cautious 
movements in manoeuvering, the army moved sloAvly and was 
out thirteen days, marching knee deej) through mud and Avater. 
After all this Bragg was found to have retreated and of course 
no battle was fought. 

The rains had swollen the streams to an unusual degree, but 
they must be crossed nolens volens. Elk river in particular, 



•w 



11 

seemed to be on the "rampage." Cables were placed across 

the stream to aid the soldier's to wade, nearly neck deep, across 

the seething waters. Nor was this all, a strong cavalry force 

was placed below the ford to rescue those who met Avith any 

mishap. 

When it came the turn for Gen. Ly tie's Brigade to cross, the 

General rode up to the men and said: " This crossing by the 

cable is too slow, will you take a regular march right through 

just to show them that some things can be done as well as 

others." 

It so happened that Anderson was in the vanguard, and for 
the first time in his life hesitated. The water seemed to deep 
and rapid. He looked around among his companions and see- 
ing MoflFatt, a taller man than himself, said: " Moffatt, you are 
the taller, suppose you try the depth of water first, I'll follow." 
"Agreed," said MoflFatt, and he plunged in without any cere- 
mony. But missing his step in jumping, he went down out of 
sight. Being a good swimmer and, perhaps, a little irritated at 
his misadventure, he called out: "Come on boys, I found the 
bottom and so can you if you try." The men at once plunged 
in and crossed the river without the loss of a man. 

From Cowan the command marched to Bridgeport and was 
immediately put on picket duty, watching the rebels, who were 
under the command of Gen. Bragg, and were posted on a large 
island near the opposite shore of the river. The bridge, nearly 
a half mile long had already been partially destroyed by the 
retreating rebels. 

The Union batteries were placed in position, those of Gen. 
Lytle commanding the bridge and its approaches, with Capt. 
Schutemeister in command. 

On the loth of August, about 11 o'clock in the evening, the 
vigilant Captain rushed up to Gen. Lytle's head-quarters and 
cried out at the top of his stentorian voice: " Sheneral Lytle, 
Sheneral Lytle ! de pridge is on fire, shall I open my batteries." 



12 » 

The General, in his usual cool manner, replied: "Yes, I guess 
you had better give them a fcAv shots, just to show them that we 
arc around," 

The shots were given by the valient Captain but it was of no 
use, the enemy had evacuated, and it would probably have taken 
a gun of fifteen miles range to reach their rear guard. 



Chapter III. 



THE CHICAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. 



Andersons participation — his capture, escape and re- 

oapturI!. 

The corps, under the command of Gen. McCook, started 
from Bridgeport on the Chicamauga Campaign on the 2d day 
of September, 1863. Gen. Lytle's Brigade was a ))ortion of 
that command. 

At this time Anderson was a member of the non-commis- 
sioned staff of Gon. Lytle, which position he held up to the 
time of his capture. Gen. McCook's Corps Avas intended and 
dispatched as a feeler or flanker. His first move was to some 
undefined point in a direction South of West of Bridgeport, 
and some sixty miles distant. The corps then moved in a 
south-easterly direction, and crossed Lookout Mountain for the 
first time, and reached Alpine, only twenty-four miles from 
Rome, on Saturday, the 12th. After remaining there about 
twenty-four hours, a retrogade movement was ordert'd. Pur- 
suing a northerly course, the conunand for the second time 
ascended Lookout Mountain and camped on the western slope 
for one day, and then pursued a mountain road in a northeast- 



18 

terly direction. In all this UKivcinuut, so far iiiio the cmu'iiiv'>i 
country, it so happoued that no rosistinL;; army was found and 
consequent]}'' tliere was no fight. 

The command reached the Chicauiauga battle field, late in tlie 
night of Saturday the 20th. There had been pretty heavy 
fighting that day, and the right wing, where Gren. Lytic imme- 
diately after his arrival took position, was found in a somewhat 
disorganized and confused condition. IsTo further battle was 
considered as probable, for the reason that the preceeding day's 
work had been very exhausting to both sides and that a recupe- 
ration by repose would be necessary. Pnrthermore it was the 
Sabbatli, a day of rest. 

The killed and wounded had only been partially taken care 
of, but about 9 A. M., the Rebels opened fire and the bloody 
contest was at once inaugurated, the nuiin feature of which have 
become familiar to all, and as the writers purpose or inclination 
do not lead him to compile this bloody page in history, it is 
omitted, and we pass on to the time of Anderson's capture, this 
took place about noon on the same day. 

As before remarked the right wing was found in some con- 
fusion, this increased as the battle proceed, and Anderson and 
others found themselves completely enveloped by the emeny 
who were driving the Union forces — they were made prisoners. 
Directly afterwards an Illinois Regiment made a furious attack 
on that portion of the rebel lines in which Anderson was held 
and drove the enemy back. It was at this iime that Anderson 
gave the guard the slip, and concealed himself. This was only 
an escape from the guard. The enemy fleeing and the Union 
forces pursuing, passed him in his hiding place. The contest 
was raging with such violence just then, that it was very difli- 
cult to tell the position of friend or foe. A great many of the 
rebels wore the U. S. blue uniform, which made the case more 
embarrassing. The first thing to be thought of as soon as pru- 
dence would allow, was to find the Union lines, and get into 



14 

them if ^ssible. This was a very difficult piece of business 
for several reasons. Tlie woods were dense and the underbrush 
formed a complete thicket. The position ot" no portion of either 
army was known to Anderson, to add to the trouble he come on 
the ground in the dark of the niij-ht, and when tlie conflict com- 
raenced in the mornin'r he had not found his bearings. On 
looking around he found a few ot his comrades in the same po- 
sition as himself. All at their wits ends to know what to do 
or which way to move. After a careful reconnoitering of the 
position, and a full consultation as to what was to be done, they 
started in the direction decided upon. TUiey had not gone far 
before they came upon private Grunanger one of their com- 
rades of the 24th, who was Avounded in the knee. He was as 
anxious to get his regiment as they were, but could give them 
no information as to the position of either friend or foe. His 
Avound was so severe that he could not move a step, Anderson 
and his friends took him up and carried him a half mile, when 
it became apparent to all parties concerned that it was simply a 
waste of stregth and time, they laid him down by a tree, built 
him a fire and left him some water, they also told him that if 
they were in the Union lines, and if it proved in the line of 
possibilities they would send or l)ring him such relief as his 
case demanded. They however soon found that they were 
powerless to help either their wounded comrade or themselves. 
They were like a ship at sea, without pilot or compass. In the 
twilight of the evening in wandering about they came to a road 
and met sokliers in blue carrying wounded men from the field. 
Anderson at once suggested that they looked like rebels in the 
disguise of the U. S. uniform. The sudden nieetino; was so 
unexpected to both parties, each seemed a little confused. No one 
seemed inclined to speak the first word. After a short pause 
one of the men engaged in carrying the wounded broke silence 
by enquiring of Anderson in a tone and manner not easily 
misunderstood as follows; "I say stranger kin you tell me 



15 

where Bay's Ho spi till is?" Days' Hospital was an exclusive 
rebel institution. That question decided at once that they were 
rebels, and as they were armed, and our men were not, and 
furthermore outnumbering our little band two to one. Ander- 
son and his party ansAvered just as much as they chose and left 
at once for the woods and bushes. Before they got out of the 
liearing of the convcrsotion of their new made acquaintances, 
they had the })leasure of hearing one of them remark. "Why 
they look like Yanks." 

Chapter IV. 



JAMES S. ANDERSON FINALLY CAPTURED. 

" Society, friendship and love, 
Divinity bestowed upon man, 
Oh ! had I the wings of a dove. 
How soon would I taste you again. 

My sorrows tlien might 1 assuage. 
In the ways of religion and truth, 
Might lean from the wisdom of age, 
And be cheered by the sallies of youth." 

After escaping as related in the preceeding chapter, it being, 
after getting a sufficient distance from the rebels, quite dark, 
the little party bivouacked without fire or any other conveni- 
ence until daylight appeared. With daylight the party started 
again on its tramp at random " the usual way," and they "met 
by chance," Avhat I a brigade of Rebel Cavalry, who rode furi- 
ously toward them, and the leader in a loud voice, cried out, 

'' You d n Yankee, surrender." Thfc summons had to be 

obeyed of course. 

Here begins the troubles, experience and hardships of An- 
derson. The first thing he had to encounter at the hands of 
the chivalry, in the way of insult, followed his capture at once. 



16 

One of the chivalry, armed Avith a revolver rode up to him and 
demanded, ''have you got any jack-knife;" the answer was 
"yes." '' Let mo see it," demanded chivalry. Chivalry look- 
ed at it, seemed to admire it, Avantod it, offered $10 in confede- 
rate money, but did not make a trade. The only wonder is 
that he did not put it into his pocket, but he did not, he handed 
it back. 

This specimen of mankind, who seemed to think he was emu- 
lating Don Quixote or some other great lord, was a lad of six- 
teen, or thereabouts, with a coon-skin cap on his head, and a 
uniform on his body. to match. A vulgar little wretch who 
would, in any well regulated city in the United States, be sent 
to the Refonn School, or some worse place. 

The Colonel commanding, had a negro on his horse behind 
him which he had captured fi'om our side, and was carrj/iuf/ him 
ahout in tli.at u)<iij for aalf. Oh 1 my gracious ! What a fall 
was tiiere, my countrymen. A Confederate Colonel on duty, 
luarginii; a nii-szer about on horseback, on the same horse with 
himself, and while on duty in command of a brigade. Com- 
ment is unnecessary. 

It wa.s the pleasure of the rebel authorities to send the pris- 
oners to Ringgold, a distance by the nearest route, of thirteen 
miles. But for some reason they were marched through heat 
and dust in the day time and camped under guard, at night time 
in the proverbial cold of this region, without shelter or provis- 
ions. But perhaps, the prisoners sufferings were somewhat mit- 
igated by the fact that they passed through Gen. Breckenridge's 
camp and saw them issuing two day's rations to the soldiers of 
his invincible army. 

It may be well to remark here that Gen. Breckenridge had 
been Vice President of the United States. The position next 
in importance to the destines of mankind that could be confer- 
ed on mcrtal man. In an evil he forgot his duty to his country 
to his God, and the lasting interest of mankind andjoined the re- 



1)elln)n Avitli ;iv<»\ve<l purp<»>sc ut" desti-oyiiig the best Govcrmnent 
that the SUM over shone upon so far at; history can enlighten 
lis on that point, and also the one Avhich conferred upon him 
those stupendous honors and responsibilities. AVhat was Gen. 
Breckenridge doing Avhen our troops Avere passing their lines. 
lie Avas issuing two days rations to his men, all consisting ol' 
two pieces of sugar cane each being about one foot long. The 
soldiers were in general ragged, barefooted and dirty. Gen. 
Breckenridge Avould have been ashamed to march this awkward 
unAvashed squad througli any respectable city or town in Chris- 
tendom. Poor Breckenridge 3'our case cannot but call to re- 
collection the immortal lines of Moore. 

•'The harps that once tlivo Taia.s Walls, 
The Saul of music Shed, 
Now hangs as mute on Taras Wall 
As if that Soul were flew 

So sleeps the pride of former days, 

So glory's thrill is oer 

And hearts that once beat high witJi paiu. 

Now feel that throb no more. 

You are uoav a fugitive in a strange land, probably never to 
return to that glorious country Avhich you so ingloriously desert- 
ed, certainly never to indulge in those gay and festive scenes 
which in former times gave you so much delight. 

On Tuesday, the 22d of March, the prisoners were marched 
to Tunnel Hill, there being about o,00() prisoners in all, in the 
line of march. Where they Avere going, no one kncAv. At this 
point. Col. West, of the 24th Wisconsin, Avas met, he Avas also 
a prisoner. 

Here an aggraviiting ein-iimstaiKH' urciirred. Orders had 
been given to issue tAvo day's rations to each prisoner. The 
rations were piled up in jjiain sight oi' the prisoners but befoi-e 
tiiey were distributed, nutrching orders Avere given, and away 
ihe prisoners marched Avith an ''aching void." and novation 
to supply the deficiency. 



18 

This was not the end of the catastrophe. In going out of 
tlie prison pen, in passing the gate the rubber blankets and can- 
teens were, by orders from head-([uarters, taken from each pris- 
oner as he passed the guard. Anderson's rubber was wrapped 
tightly in his woolen blanket and escaped. Finding that his 
canteen Avas in very great danger of seizure he took it from his 
person, placed it upon the ground and a single Avell directed 
stamp with his foot, placed the canteen beyond the hope of use- 
fulness. When he got out of the reach of observation he gave 
his rubber blanket to Col. West, because it was not customary 
to take such things from officers. 

When the prisoners were finally formed into line, the rebels 
evidently wanted to impress the Yankees at parting with an ex- 
agerated idea of their power, brought out the Georgia Militia, 
armed with great wooden SAVords. The prisoners could not help 
notwithstanding their exhausted condition, feeling slightly mirth- 
ful, and by a fcAv Avell directed questions dispersed, in a fcAv 
minutes, of this sjiccimen of chivalry. 

On Thursday, the 22d day of September, the prisoners avoic 
marched to Dalton and Avent into camp and drcAV rations — a 
pint of flour, Avith nothing to cook it in, mixed it Avith Avater 
and put it into the ashes to cook. When it Avas about half done 
orders came to fall in and of course the prisoners cake Avas 
dough. 

The object of making the men fall in Avas simply to march 
them through the town for exhibition. There Avas a large and 
intelligent audience on hand of both sexes. They called out as 
the prisoners passed — "you vandals," "you mis can't never 
subjugate weones, etc., etc. After the exhibition was over, 
the prisoners Avere marched back to camp again. 

The next nun-ning they Avere taken to Atlanta about 100 miles 
distant, when they arrived at about 4 P. ^NL, Wednesday, Sept. 
23d, and were marched by a long route through the City. The 
gaping crowd stared at them — but they had the good fortune to 



19 

get good camping ground. This was however accidental. It so 
happened that the rehels had to quarter a large number of their 
own deserters in the town at the same time. They had already- 
got possession of the old vermin besieged quarters, and it was 
dangerous to undertake to change matters under the circum- 
stances, and thus it happened that our boys got their excellent 
quarters. 

The next day a reguhir detail of men was sent from the head 
quarters of the rebels to take from the prisoners their woolen 
blankets and jack-knives, they were marched through a narrow 
gate, and each man halted and relieved of his blanket at once, 
and then the hands of one of those authorized agents Avere 
thrust into the pockets of the victims in search of jack knives 
and other plunder. Col. West of the 24th Wisconsin witness- 
ing the outrage vehemently remonstrated — a dirty looking con- 
federate Captain, whose wearing apparel seemed to have been a 
stranger to change for many months, and whose face and hands 
indicated a "total abstinance " from water several Aveeks, called 
out "you needn't talk, they serve you right, you uns robbed me 
at Camp Chase, you took the shirt off my back." Anderson 
was standing near, and promptly answered, "well then they gave 
you a clean one in the place of it." This raised such a shout 
among both rebels and union men that the dirty Captain left. — 
The next night was very cold and the men suffered greatly. In 
the morning at day light the prisoners drew five days rations 
and started for the cars, bound to Richmond. At that time the 
prisoners numbered about 4000, but only about 2000 Avent by 
this train. Large number of people Avere on the ground to see 
the Northern vandals on their arrival at the depot, and as they 
had to Avait tAvo or three hours at, the depot, their curiosity had 
that length of time for gratification. 

While these precious secession specimens Avere gratifying 
their curiosity, they did not themseh^es escape observation, and 
it was found that in the sin of omission they were entitled to a 



20 

Dao-c ill history. Wlictlior it w.is ;ilso a sin of c-ommissiou di- 
vines must decide . 

Tavo trains of cars with wounded C(nifederate soldiers canif 
to the depot and halted loni;- enough to receive humane attention 
at least. There was no more attention paid to theni by tin' 
"■apinf rebel crowd thnn as tliouuli thcv w<'i'e so many cattle. 
No provision was oifered. no attention jiaid to their appeals 
for water. None of the men who had ])ledoed with these sold- 
iers their live;?, their fortunes, and their sacred honiu- to sus- 
tain the rebellion went to their relief. This is a case which 
might justify Olivei- (Toldsmiths expressed idea of friendship, 
when he says. 

And what is IVieudsliip but ;i iiuine, 
A charm that lulls to sleep : 
A shade that follows wealth aud liiiiic. 
And leaves the wretch to weep. 

Chapter V. 



ON THE WAY TO RICHMOND AND BELLE ISLE. 
A Pleasant Camping Ground — incidents— an encounter — 

A FIGHT. 

From Dalton after considerable delay the prisoners proceed- 
ed in freight cars towards Richmond, the Capital of the Con- 
federacy. They had by some means learned their destination, 
the horrors of Libby prison of course was presented to their 
views with a strong suspicion that they were to be the recipi- 
ents of " Southern hospitality " in that celebrated institution. 

In pursuing their journey reached Augusta, about 170 mlleB 
from Dalton, at about 1 o'clock A. M., of the next day. At 
Augusta, the prisoners Avere placed in the Baptist Ohiu-ch yard, 
a beautiful piece of ground, tastefully laid out and ornamented 
and shaded by the INlagnolia and other ornamental trees, some 
hopes was indulged by a few of the enthusiastic that this might 



•2i 

be tilt' place <>t' their future abode until i'\eiiaii:^e<l- Early iu 
the morniuj; however the ilhisioii avus dispelled by tlie order to 
fall in, and at S (Vchu^k Saturday the litith fouinl the untortu- 
mitCB on tlieii' winding wa}", ami tli;' next day at n'ii)n they 
found themselves in (.'ohunbia. At every jdaee id" importance 
alonc^ the line at whieli the trains stopped large luuubers of peo- 
]"ile were assembled t^> take a huig lasting lonk or stai-e at the 
ilreaded "'Yanks.' 

After a feAv hours stay at Cohuubia, the pi'isuners were taken 
by railroad to Chester, about 40 miles distant. A large num- 
ber of people oauie out to see the Yanks, and among them a 
very great many nabobs. Charleston at that time was being 
bombarded, and the wealthy non-combattants congregated at 
this point by some kiiul of instinct, perhaps, simply for the 
reason, "that birds of a feather flock together.'' 

The next place i-eachcd was Charlotte, N. C, Avhich place 
was reached about two o'clock in the morning, where the pris- 
oners Avere allowed the privilege of renuiining until day light, 
and then they proceeded to Salisbury, about 40 or 50 miles 
This place contains one of the Regular Military prisons. From 
Salisbury they proceeded to Greensboro wliere a slight incident 
occured The people as usual along the route turned out to sec 
what kind of a creature a "Y^ank" really appeared like. T'hey 
had evidently been led to believe in one or two things that they 
were frightful monsters, dangerous to approach without the pre- 
caution of chaining them or placing them in secure cages or 
else they were mean cowardly vandals. Of course in a small 
place there must of necessity be two parties. One believed in 
the idea that the Y''anks were ci^vards and the other that they 
were not. In one thing they were ail agreed, and that was that 
the Y^anks were placed in a, condition in which it would not he 
dangerous to go and see them. They therefore went witli the 
same feelings and emotions that people experience in going to a 
menagarie. After getting on the ground and seeing that the 



22 

prisoners were simply men, and waiting a short time for their 
nerves to get quieted, the valorous gentlemen who had expressed 
the popular opinion that the "Yank" were cowards, began to 
be abusive, calling the prisoners "Yanks," "vandals," cowards 
&.C., interlarding their expressions with indecent slang and pro- 
fanity. One of tliem wlio seeiiiod to be a leader, became so furi- 
ous in his denunciations that he soon attracted general attention 
Perceiving that he was the observed of all observers he became 
more abusive and violent, and finally talked himself into cour- 
age enough to approach the cars still uttering his denunciations? 
against the Government and the Northern people. One of the 
prisoners in tlie cars felt so outrageed at the language used by 
this specimen of chiv^dry that he jumped from the car, passed 
the guard in a twinking, and gave the bragadocia a sound 
thrashing in less than two minutes, and then quietly returned 
to his place in the car. 

The guard finding that things might grow serious, went to 
work and cleared the ground of all the brawlers and gazers. The 
prisoners route from Greensboro, was through Raleigh and Wel- 
don, arriving at Petersburg, September 30th, and were marched 
through the town in the dark in order to prevent the prisoners 
seeing or making an}- observations witli regard to the rebel for- 
tifications. Aftei- getting out of town, they were placed on the 
cars and went to Richmond, 22 miles, and the same day march- 
ed to Belle Island. Bollr Island, by its name, might seem to 
be a very pleasant place, and under some circumstances, in times 
gone by, was, but the boys in Blue did not find it so ; that is, 
the Western ones did not. They had no shelter. Their clothes 
were very thin and scanty, and the weather was remarkably and 
severel}'- cold. The prisoners had to walk all night to keep from 
freezing. To add to the misery, the rations served out were 
scanty and unwholesome. They consisted of one quarter loaf 
of very poor bread, one ounce of what Avas called beef, but 
vv'hich had a very small title to the name, a few buggy, goober 



23 

peas, and all this ready cooked in rebel style. And yet the 
men were reduced to such an extremity, that they awaited with 
impatience and anxiety their arrival and distribution. They 
were cooked at a distance from the camp, and were brought there 
by a steamer. 

The vile trash which Avas to supply the ''aching void " of an 
empty Stomach, was so longed for by the famished men, that no 
vessel ever approached shore that was more cordially welcomed 
than this conveyer of garbage was every morning by the half 
famishedprisoners. In the early part of December the cold be- 
came intense, and many prisoners froze to death. How many, 
cannot be ascertained at present — but it is certain, that in one 
night, six died by freezing. 



RETURN TO RICHMOND. 

Prison life there under Jeff. Davis' personal observa- 
tion EVERY day. He could not help knowing the 
condition of things occurring every day 
''right under his nose" in his pre- 
tended established Capitol. 

On the fifth of March the prisoners were or ordered to fall 
in. Such as could do so obeyed the order, and were marched 
to Richmond, passing over Long bridge, which is from one 
(juarter to one half Jiiile long. The line of inarch gave the men 
a chance to soe Cattle Thunder to their left. Libby prison 
which was on the right hand, and Pemberton prison, wliere they 
turned the corner and went into what is called Smith's building, 
formerly used as a tobacco warehouse. They were placed in 
the third story. 

There a man known by the name of little Ross or Jack of Clubs 
came up to call tlte roll. If any of the men were tardy about 
falling in he would scold in a loud voice, and kick and cuff them, 



24 



prett_y boon 1m> hccaiDr .-^i; odious that tlir ])rii3oners -would call 
out en Jiiasse ou liLs making Win appearance '' Jack of Clubs," 
" Jack of Clubs," this at first made Iriui still more furious, but 
in the end had the effect to make him a little more decent in his 
deportment. 

If any prisoner made his appearance at the Avindow, a sentry 
would call out. ''Tuck your head in thar," and at the same 
time blaze away witli Ids musket Avithout any regard as to whom 

he would hit. 

A little incident (!ccLired lieic which may be worthy of men- 
tion — Frederick Reynor <if Gen. Sheridan's Staft" made his es- 
cape. By some means or other he -^lot into his possession an 
artillery officers suit of uniform, and after having put it on with 
due care and exactness, was ]irepai-ed to emerg*. As usual the 
prisoners were ci'owded as near the guard as possible. Reynor 
marched down the staiis in u pompous iiianner, and demanded 

of the guards, why they did not make d m d Yanks 

stand back, and remarked that tlieic was "hardly room for a 
gentlenum to pass in and out." Tlie guards stood in awe of 
this august personage, and he marched by them. The last that 
Avas seen of him he Avas eating one loaf of bread and carryino- 
another under his arm. A conA-enient baker shop furnished him 
tliese much needed supplies, and he deliberately marched out of 
the rebel lines, and was never recaptured. 

The little pompous man Ross Avas in the habit Avhen eomiug 
to call the roll of bringing Avith him his favorite dog. The pris- 
oners cauglit him one day, and after the I'edoubtable little man 
had left — cooked and ate [him. This may in some Avay shoAV 
to AA'hat an extremity of hungry men Avere driven to in the capi- 
tol of the confederacy. 

The rations at this place came cooked, hut Avere cold before 
reaching the prison. The man in charge scooped out Avith his 
hands Avhat he thought proper ration for each prisoner. For a 
a while the ])risoners Avarmed theii" cold Imicii by gas. but an 



25 

order came from head-quarters forbidding the use of gas in 
that way. 

There were several changes in prisons with all the events and 
incidents connected witli the various moves while the prisoners 
were confined in Richmond. 

But as Ave arc in somewhat of a hurry to reach the main 
point of interest, Andersonville, only one other fact Avill be re- 
lated, of Capt. Turner, Provost Marshall of Richmond. He 
came to the prisoners and said he had orders to receive all 
the money and proceeded to take the same, putting the names 
of the men and the amounts in a seeming official book, promis- 
ing to return the same at a proper time. In this way he got a 
very large amount of money, but pay day has never come. In 
fact it might be remarked that the jingle of money in an empty 
pocket returns no ''sound." The experience of the prisoners 
at Richmond was not much varied excepting they were placed 
first in one prisons and then another until their final departure 
for Andersonville. 

Departure from Richmond. Arrival at Andersonville 
Meeting and greeting of Capt Wirz. 

The 16th of May found Anderson leaving No. 4 prison for 
Andersonville, passing through Greensboro, Charlotte, Augusta 
and Allen, and arriving at Andersonville on the 21st of May, at 
5 P. M., when Capt. Henry Wirz was met for the first time, 
who exclaimed in triumph "■ now I show you tam Yanks ! I'm an 
officer of de grand army. " Fall into line dere." The soldiers 
being somewhat tired were slow in their movements. Wirz ex- 
claimed, "I had my preakfast, I had my tinner, I dont care one 
tam. You gets no supper 'till you opeys my orders." The 
result was that the men got no supper. Henry "Wirz is a tall 
cadavarous Swiss, about six feet high, stooping shoulders, who 
bent nearly double in riding his grey mare, with a narrow fore- 
head, eyes close together, A^hiskers straggling, features sharp. 

4 



26 

He "would di'aw his revolvers quite frequently, always accompa- 
nying the act with some threat. He invariably, Avhen irritated, 
showed his teeth, which were neither clean or regular; but as 
Captain Wirz is on trial and his case and charges in indictment 
are now transpiring, we Avill place him in the position that the 
newspaper reports place him, reserving the right to make such 
future comments as may seem proper. The newspapers give 
him the following description, viz: The appearance of Henry 
Wirz at the commencement of his trial before the military com- 
mission in Washington is thus described: 

"He is a slenderly built man, about forty-five or fifty years 
of age, with dark hair and Avhiskers streaked with grey. He 
was dressed in a black suit, and a wliite shirt. On the Avay 
from the Old Capitol Prison to the Court Room he wore an old 
fashioned silk hat. During the reading of the charges, he sat 
between his counsel, Avitli whom he conversed frequently. He 
sat Avith his legs crossed and his hand to his face and manifes- 
ted at times considerable nervousness." 

The charges and specifications are given below. 

TRIAL OF WIRZ. 



C II A K G E S OFFICIALLY 



Washington, August 21, 1865. 
The special military commission convened at the Court of 
Claims' room, Major-General Wallace presiding, and Colonel 
Chipman Judge Advocate. At half-past one o'clock Captain 
Wirz, the prisoner to be tried, was brought into the room, 
guarded on each side by a soldier. The prisoner was requested 
to rise, when Colonel Chipman said: " Captain W^irz, you are 
to be tried by this military commission. Have you any per- 
sonal objection to any of its members ?" Judge Hughes, of 



27 

tlic counsel, said he proposed to make no objection of a per- 
sonal character. They wouhl, however, at a subsequent stage 
of the proceedings, ask to be heard on the plea of a general 
jurisdiction, especially objecting to the mode of constituting 
the court; but if the prisoner was to be tried by a military 
commission, he would as soon be tried by this one as any other. 
The members of the commission were then sworn. The Judge 
Advocate informed the prisoner that he was arraigned for trial 
under the name of Henry Wirz. Was that the name ? The 
prisoner answered that it was. Judge Hughes desired to say 
that the charges and specifications were not delivered to the 
prisoner until yesterday afternoon, and were not seen by his 
counsel this morning ; therefore they had not sufficient time to 
examine them. Colonel Chipman said that the counsel could 
ask for delay after arraignment, and then proceeded to read the 
charges and specifications against Henry Wirz, as follows: 

Charge First. — Maliciously, willfully and traitorously, and 
in aid of the then existintr armed rebellion a«i;ainst the United 
States of America, of, on, or before the first day of March, 
A. D. 186-4, and on divers other days between that day and 
the tenth day of April, 1865, combining, confederating and 
conspiring, together with Robert E. Lee, James A. Seddon, 
John H. AVindcr, Lucius D. Northrup, Richard B. Winder, 
Joseph White, W. S. Winder, R. R. Stevenson, Moore, and 
others unknown, to injure the health and destroy the lives of 
soldiers in the military service of the United States, then held 
and being prisoners of war Avithin the lines of the so-called 
confederate states, in the military prisons thereof, to the end 
that the armies of the United States might be weakened and 
impaired, in violation of the laws and customs of war. 

Specifcation. — In this that the said Henry Wirz did com- 
bine, confederates and and conspired with them, the said Rob- 
ert E. Lee, Joseph A. Seddon, John H. Winder, Lucius H. 
Northrup, R. B. Winder, Joseph White, W. S. Winder, R. R. 



28 

Stevenson, more and others whose names are unknown, citizens 
of the United States, aforesaid, and wlio were then cnurao-ed in 
armed rebellion against the United States, malaciously, traitor- 
eusly, and in violation of the laws of war, to impair and injure 
the health, and to destroy their lives by subjecting them to tor- 
ture and great suffering by confining in unhealthy and unwhole- 
some quarters, by exposing to the inclemency of the weather and 
to the dews and the burning sun, of summerby compelling the use 
of impure water and by furnishing insufficient and unwholesome 
food, of large numbers of federal soldiers in the military ser- 
vice of the U. S. of America, held prisoners of war at Ander- 
sonville, in the state of Georgia, within the lines of the so 
called confederate states, on or before the first day of March, 
A. D. 1864, and at divers times between that day and the 10th 
day of April, A, D. 1865, to the end that the armies of the U. 
S. might be weakened and impaired, and the insurgents engaged 
in armed rebellion against the U. S., might be aided and com- 
forted and helped, said Henry Wirz, and officer in the so called 
confederate states, being then and there commandant of a mili- 
tary prison at Andersonville, in the state of Georgia, located 
by authority of the so called confederate states, for the con- 
finement of prisoners of war, and as such commandant, fully 
clothad with authority, and in duty bound to treat, care and 
provide for such prisoners held as aforesaid as were or might 
be placed in his custody according to the laws of war, did in 
furtherance of such combination, confederation and conspiracy 
and entered thereinto by them — the said Robert E. Lee, Jas. 
A. Seddon, John H. Winder, Lucius H. Northrup, Richard B. 
Winder, Jas. White, W. S. Winder, R. R. Stevenson, Moore, 
and others whose names are unknown, maliciously wickedly, 
and traitorously confined a large number of such prisoners of 
war soldiers in the military service of the L^nited States to the 
amount of 30,000 men in unhealthy and unwholsome quarters, 
and in a close and small area of ground wholly inadequate to 



29 

theii' Avaiifcs and (lestructivc to their bealtli, wliicinic well kne-vv 
and intended, and Avliile there so confined during the time afore- 
said, did in furtherance of his evil design and in aid of the 
said conspiracy wilfully and maliciously neglected to fui-nish tents, 
barracks or other shelter for their protection from the inclem- 
ency of winter, and dews and burning sun of summer ; and 
with such intent diil take and cause to be taken from them their 
clothing, blankets, camp equipage and other property of which 
they were possessed at the time of being placed in his custody; 
and with like malice and evil intent did refuse to furnish or 
cause to be furnished food, either of a quality or quantity suf- 
ficient to preserve health and sustain life, and did refuse and 
neglect to furnish wood sufficient for cooking in summer and to 
keep the said prisoners warm in the winter ; and did compel 
the said prisoners to subsist upon unwholesome Avater, reeking 
with the filth of garbage of the prison and prison yard, and the 
offial and drainage of the back house of said prison, whereby the 
prisoners became greatly reduced in their bodily strength and 
emaciated and injured in their bodily health, their minds im- 
paired and their intellects broken, and many of them to-wit : 
Ten thousand Avhose names are unknown sickened and died by 
reason thereof, which he, said Henry Wirz, then and there well 
knew and intended, and so knowing, aud evily intending, did 
refuse and neglect to provide proper lodging, food or nourish- 
ment for the sick, and necessary medicine and medical attend- 
ance for the restoration of their health, and did knowino-ly, 
maliciously and wilfully, in furtherance of his evil designs, per- 
mit them to languish and die from want of care and proper 
treatment. 

And the said Henry Wirz, still pursuing his evil purposes, 
did permit to remain in the said prison, among the emaciated, 
sick and languishing living, the bodies of the dead until they 
became corrupt aud loathsome, and filled the air with fetid and 
noxious exhalations, and thereby greatly increased the unwhole- 



30 

someness of the prison, inasmuch that great numbers of the said 
prisoners, to wit, to the number of ten thousand, whose names 
are unknown, sickened and died by reason thereef. 

And the said Henry Wirz, still pursuing his wicked and cruel 
purpose, wholly disregarding the usages and rules of civilized 
warfare, did, at the time and place aforesaid, maliciously and 
wilfully subject the prisoner aforesaid to cruel, unusual and in- 
famous punislmient, upon slight, trivial and fictitious pretences, 
by fastening large balls of iron to their feet, and binding large 
numbers of the prisoners closely together with large chains 
around their necks and feet, so that they Avalked with the great- 
est difiiculty, and being so confined were subjected to the burn- 
ing rays of the sun, and often without any food or drink for 
hours and every day, from which said ciiiel treatment large 
)iumbers, to wit: the nunibes of one hundred, whoso names are 
unknown, sickened, fainted, ;nid died. 

And, he, the ^:iid Wirz did further enielly treat and injure 
said prisoners, by maliciously confining them within an instru- 
ment of torture called the stocks, thus depriving them of the use 
of their limbs, and foreiiig them to lie still and stand foi- many 
hours without the ])owcr of ehanging position, and being with- 
out food or drink, in euusc(|uence of which many, to wit: the 
number of thirty whose uiuiies are unknown, sickened and died. 

And he, the said Wiiz, still wiekedly pursuing his evil pur- 
poses, did establish and cause to be designated within the prison 
enclosure containing said prisoners, a dead line, 1>eing a line 
around the inner face of the stocka<le or wall enclosing said 
prison, and al^mt twenty feet distant from and Avithin said stock- 
ade, and having so esta1-)lished said dead line, which Avas in 
many places an imaginary line and in many other places marked 
by insecure and shifting strips of boards nailed upon the tops 
of small and insecure stakes or posts, he, the said Wirz instruc- 
ted the prison guards stationed around the said stockade, to 
fire upon and kill any of the prisoners aforesaid who might 



31 

touch, fall upon, pass ovei* or under, or across the said dead 
line, pursuant to which said orders maliciously and needlessly 
gtven by said Wirz, the said prison guard did fire upon and kill 
a large number of said prisoners, to wit: the number of about 
three hundred. 

And the said Wirz, still pursuing his evil purpose, did keep 
and use ferocious and blood-thirsty beasts, dangerous to human 
life, called bloodhounds, to hunt down prisoners of war, afore- 
said, who made their escape from his custody, and did then and 
there wilfully and maliciously sufter, excite and encourage the 
said beasts to st!i*/f, tear, mangle and maim the bodies and limbs 
of said fugitive prisoners of Avar, which the said beasts incited 
as aforesaid, then and there did, whereby a large number of said 
prisoners of war, wlio, during the tinu^ aforesaid, made tlieir 
escape and were recaptured, and were by said beasts then and 
there cruelly and inhumanly injured, inasmuch that many of 
said prisoners, to wit: the number of about fifty died. 

And the said Wir/ still pursuing liis Avicked purpose, and 
still aiding in carrying out said conspiracy, did use and cause 
to be used fo)- the pretended i)urposc of vaccination, vaccine 
matter which same impure and poisonous matter was then and 
there, by the direction and order of said Wir/, maliciously, 
cruelly and wickedly deposited in the arms of many of said 
prisoners, by reason of which large numbers of them, to-Avit : 
one hundred lost their arms, and numy of them, to-Avit: about 
the number of tAvo hundred Avere so injured that they soon 
thereafter died, all of Avhich the said Henry Wirz Avell kncAV 
and maliciously intended, and in aid of the then existing re- 
bellioji against the United States, Avith a vicAV to assist in 
Avcakening and impairing the armies of the United States, and 
in furtherance of the said conspirac}^, and with the full knoAvl- 
edge, consent and connivance of his conspirators aforesaid, the 
said Wirz, then and there, did — 

Charge 2. — Murder in violation of the laws and customs of 
war. 



32 

Specification 1. — In this the said H. Wirz, an officer in the 
rebel service of the so-called confederate states, at Anderson- 
ville, in the State of Georgia, on or about the 8th day of July, 
A. D. 1864, then and there being commandant of a prison 
there located by the authority of said so-called confederate 
states for the confinement of prisoners of war taken and held 
as such from the armies of the United States, while acting as 
said commandant, feloniously, willfully, and of his malice 
aforethought, did make an assault, and he, the said Wirz, with 
a revolver, then and there loaded and charged with gun-powder 
and bullets, which said pistol the said Wirz, in his hand then 
and there, had and held to, agai)ist and upon a soldier belonging 
to the army of the United States, in his, the said Henry Wirz's 
custody as a prisoner of war, whose name is unknown, then and 
there feloniously, and of his malice aforethought, did shoot and 
discharge, inflicting upon the body of the soldier aforesaid a 
mortal Avound with the pistol aforesaid, in consequence of which 
said mortal wound, murderously inflicted by said Wirz, the said 
soldier thereafter died. 

Specification 2. — In this that said Henry Wirz, an officer 
in the military service of the so called Confederate States of 
America, at Andersonville, in the State of Georgia, on or about 
the 20th day of September, A. I). 1865, then and there being 
commandant of a prison there located by .authority of the so 
called Confederate States, for the confinement of prisoners of 
war taken, and held as such, from the armies of the United 
States, while acting as said commandant, feloniously, wilfully 
and of his malice aforethought, did jump upon, stamp, kick, 
bruise, and otherwise injure with the heels of his boots a soldier 
belonging to the army of the United States in his, the said Wirz 
custody as a prisoner of war, whose name is unknown and of 
which said soldier soon thereafter died. 

Specification 3 — In this that said Wirz, an officer in the 
military service of the so-called confederate states at Anderson- 



33 

ville, in the State of Georgia, on or about the 13th day of June, 
A. D. 1864, then and there being commandant of a prison there 
located by authority of said so-called confederates for the con- 
finement of prisoners of Avar, taken and held as such from the 
armies of the United States of America while acting as com- 
mandant, feloniously and of his malice afoi-et bought, did make 
an assault, and he, the said Wirz, with a certain pistol, called 
revolver, then and there loaded and cliarged with gunpowder 
and bullets, which said pistol the said Henry Wirz in hand then 
and there held against and upon a soldier belonging to the army, 
a prisoner of war, whose name is unknown, then and there 
feloniously, and of his malice aforethought , did shoot and dis- 
charge, inflicting upon the body of the soldier aforesaid, a mor- 
tal wound with the pistol aforesaid, in consequence of which 
said mortal wound, murderously inflicted by the said Wirz, the 
said soldier thereafter died. 

Tlie amended charges and action of the Military commission 
and counsel for defendant are as follows : 

THE WIRZ TRIAL. 



Washington, Aug. 23, 1865. 

The Wirz commission met this morning. Colonel Chipman 
read an order from the war department dated yesterday, dis- 
solving the former commission but appointing another, consist- 
ing of the same members who were again sworn in to-day, and 
Captain Wirz again arraigned, when the charges and specifica- 
tions were read. They are in the niain, substantially the same 
as those heretofore presented. The alterations include the 
striking out of the names of Robert E. Lee, James A. Seddon 
and Lucius D. Northrop, as some of those with whom the pris- 
oner is is accused of combinng and conspiring to impair and 
injure the health and to destroy the lives, by subjecting to tor- 

5 



34 

ture and great suffering, of large numbers of federal prisoners, 
to the number of thirty thousand soldiers of the military ser- 
vice of the United States, held as prisoncrsof "war at Anderson- 
ville, the charge of murder being retained. 

The specifications include the most cruel acts of barbarism. 
Judge Hughes spoke of these proceedings — arraigning the 
prisoner on a new list of charges, &c., without given counsel 
due notice, as extraordinary, and asked that additional time be 
given to enable the prisoner to prepare for his defense. This 
was granted, and the court adjourned until to-morrow noon. 
The counsel for Wirz have retired counseling. They have done* 
all they could for him under the circustances. 

SECOND DISPATCH. 

Washington, Aug. 23, 1865. 

The Wirz military commission met this A. M. at 11 o'clock, 
at the Court of Claims room at the Capitol. Judge Hughes, 
counsel for accused, said, that as the prisoner should be brought 
into Court, he would would submit a motion. ^laj. Gen. AVall 
remarked that time enough will be given for that purpose. Judge 
Hughes — I will present your case at the earliest moment. The 
prisoner was ot this stage of the proceedings brought into court 
in the custody of a military guard. Judge advocate Chipnian 
called the roll of members, all of whom answered to their names. 
He then read an order from the Avar department, dated 22(1 of 
Ausust, in substance that the militory commission which was 
to convene on the 80th inst., is, by order of the President of 
the United States dissolved, and then read another order dated 
yesterday, convening a special commission to assemble to-day 
at 11 o'clock, for the trial of Henry Wirz, and such other pris- 
oners as may be brought before it, the detail of officers being 
the same as that of the previous commission. 

Maj. 0. 0. Hasler has, on application of Col. Chipnian to 
the proper authority, been appointed assistant judge advocate. 



35 

Judge advocate Cliipman asked the prisoner, Avhether he had 
any objection to the members of the Court. Mr. Peck, of course 
said that there Avas none personally to the members. Judge 
advocates and the official reporters were then sworn, to the effect 
that an addition to an impartial duty they would not improper- 
ly disclose the secret proceedings and sentence of the Court. 

Judge Advocate Chipman, addressing the prisoner, said : 
"You are charged under the name of Henry Wirz. Is that 
your name ?" 

The prisoner said it was. 

Judge Advocate Chipman — " The charges and specification 
will now be read.'' 

Major General Wallace, the President of the Court — " Let 
the prisoner stand up." 

Captain Wirz rose to his feet, Avhen the charges and specifi- 
cations were read. They are substantially the same as those 
upon which he was arraigned on Monday. He is first charged 
with maliciously, willfully and traitorously, and in aid of the 
then existing armed rebellion against the United States of 
America, on or before the first of March, 1864, and on divers 
other days between that day and the 10th day of April, 1865, 
combining, confederating and conspiring, together with John 
H. Winder, Richard B. Winder, Joseph White, W. S. Winder, 
R. R. Stevenson and others unknown, to injure the health and 
destroy the lives of soldiers in the military service of the United 
States, then held and being prisoners of war within the lines of 
the so-called confederate states, and in the military prisons 
thereof, to the end that the armies of the United States might 
be weakened and impaired in violation of the laws and customs 
of war. 

The above difters from the former charges in this, namely, 
that the names of Robert E. Lee, James A" Seddon and Lucius 
D. Northrop are omitted. The other charges are that of mui'- 
der, produced by heartless, brutal and cruel cruel treatment. 



86 

The specifications are fourteen in number. Judi:;e advocate 
Cliipman asked the prisoner Avhat answer he had to make to the 
charge. The prisoner gave no reply. Judge Hughes, of coun- 
sel, said that these new charges or specifications, or the fact that 
any amendments or cliangcs had been made in tliose heretofore 
presented, reached him now for the first time. The counsel had 
received an official note this norning from the judge advocate, 
which he would read, accompanied by a copy, as he supposed, 
of these charges. The note was received at eight o'clock or a 
little sooner, this morning, addressed to the firm of Avhicli he 
was a member, viz., Hughes, Denney & Peck, dated August 28, 
1865. 

The note from Judge advocate Chipman, is in substance brief- 
ly as follows : 

"I enclose a copy of the charges and specifications with such 
changes as may be presented to-morrow. It is proper to say 
now what could not be said sooner, viz : The Court will assem- 
ble to-morrow at 11 o'clock in the Court of Claims' room, and 
I will proceed without delay with the case. The objections 
made by you will in part be removed by the orders of to-mor- 
row, and there remains but two points to be raised by you to l)e 
settled. First, as to the jurisdiction of the Court, and second, 
as to the immunity of Capt. Wirz's claims under the arrange- 
ment with Capt. Noyes, and the capitulation as concluded, and 
betAveen Johnston and Sherman. These I hope, Avill be dispos- 
ed of to-morrow, or as soon as Ave get into the evidence." 

Judge Hughes said the note Avas not dated yesterday, but to- 
day, this being the 28d. 

Judge Advocate Chipman said the note Avas Avritten yesterday, 
but Avas Avrongly dated in the hurry. 

Judge Hughes remarked that he saAv l)y a morning paper only 
that the court Avas to meet to-day, and it Avas mere accident that 
he came here. The authorities Avere ample that the prisoner 
should have time to plead and prepare for defence, and to con- 



salt counsel ; and on the |)rii=!ouev's' behalf he asked tlie com- 
mission to give Lim sufficient time. The prisoner, vfitliout nriy 
fault of his, would now be under the necessity of employing 
new counsel, as lie, Judge Hughq^ was counsel, and as he, Judge 
Hughes, was inclined to think that he had rendered all the pro- 
fessional service required by his obligation, it was necessary 
for him to give the reasons for Avithdrawiug from the case, but 
this ought not to prevent the court from determining the <j^ue3tioii 
of giving further time. 

Judge Advocate Chipman did not object to las note being road. 
as an oflicial paper. He placed the amendments to the charges 
in the hands of- the counsel as soon as posiblc. Th^e note -viim ^ 
written at dark and sent by an old and faitlifal orderly and de- 
livered at the office, which he supposed the gentleman occupied 
during the day, but they might have been out at the time: He 
had nothing to say against a proper adjourment to enable the 
prisoner to prepare for defence. He sliould certainly part from' 
the gentleman with regret, yet he did not feel that cither him- 
self or the court ought to be intimid;ited by the threats of coun- 
sel. If there was any hard grievance he supposed the court 
would proceed properly and legall}'. He proposed to curtail no 
right or cut off any privilege to which counsel are entitled. "He 
left the question of postponement to the court. 

Judge Hughes remarked that this was a new court l)vougat 
into being. The court would not subject the prisoner to the 
disadvantages of the reorganization ol' the court, and deny him 
the benefits which might result from it. This court know 
nothing of the other or former charij'es. If he had said anv- 
thing calculated to intimidate the court as intimated by the 
Judge Advocate, he was not aware of it. Even had he been Bo 
disposed, he would have had an admonition in the countenances 
of the officers composing the court, and the past conduct of 
those gentlemen, that it would be labor lost. They had been 
in the smoke of battle. Perhaps he would make a similar 



38 

remark applicable to his friend, the Judge Advocate, if he was 
aware that the latter had ever been in battle, but he had not 
heard of it. 

Mr. Peck, one of the counsel for the defence, suggested to 
the court that the recent action would bring up an entirely new 
class of defence, and would necessarily take up more time. 

Judge Hughes here took up his hat, and placing a pile of 
law books under his arm, walked out of the court room. Mr. 
Peck resuming said, as the prisoner had once been arraigned 
and his life placed in jeopardy, lie was entitled now either to 
an acquittal or trial on the former charges. He believed that 
ail the authorities — civil and military — were conclusive on the 
point that if not acquitted the prisoner under the circumstances 
Avas entitled to all the bcnchts of an acquital. 

The President of the court inquired of Mr. Peck whether he 
was still here in relation of counsel. 

Mr. Peck replied that he was not. 

The President |iaid the Judge Advocate was here as the 
counsel of the defendant, the gentleman and his associates 
having withdrawn. Judge Advocate Chipman said, as the 
responsibility now attached to him of appearing for the prisoner, 
he asked an adjourinnent till to-morroAv. He was unmindful 
of the rights of the prisoner. He regretted the retiring of the 
counsel. Judge had left on record the remark that he made no 
allusion to him as a soldier, not being aware that he had been 
in battle. In reply to this, he merely referred to the official 
records on file in the ^Var Department. The commission ad- 
journed until tAvehe o'clock to-morroAv. 

With regard to the charges and specifications against Capt. 
Wirz both Mr. Anderson and Mr. William C. Pitt the author 
of the map accompanying this Avork agree that in the main they 
are true, but as to speciiication No. 1, they have no personal 
kaoAvledge. They neither have anv doubt as to the Avill and in- 
tention of Wirz to do such a. deed, but they regard him as too 
great a coAvard to perpretrate the act. 



39 
THEPRISONERWIRZ— HIS APPEARANCE IN COURT. 



The appearance of Wirz, on his trial is thus doscribod in tlie 
Philadelphia Inquirer : 

'' Wirz is a middle-aged man, apparently between forty-five 
or fifty years of age, about five feet eight inches high, of thin, 
spare figure, dark hair, whiskers and moustache, slightly ting- 
ed with gray. He has a high forehead, long nose, a keen pierc- 
ing, dark eye, which wanders restlessly around the room and 
his action betokens a quick, nervous temperament. 

He looked ill at ease, carew' orn and hurried. He was dressed 
in a black cloth coat and pantaloons, Avith white shirt, collar 
turned down, a la Byron, over a thick, heavy black silk necker- 
chief. His head gear consisted of a well Avorn, greasy-looking 
old silk hat, and this, withhis seedy looking, thread-bare clothes, 
gave him a shabby genteel appearance. 

He appears to take intense interest in the proceedings, sitting 
cross-legged, with his right hand constantly to his mouth, pull- 
ing his moustache with his thumb and forefingers iu a nervous, 
agitated manner He evidently appreciates the solemnity of 
his situation. 

His counsel conversed Avith him frequently, but his answers 
seem to be given mechanically and in monosylables, in a low 
tone. 

When the Court room was being cleared, he was taken into 
the lobby, and as he passed out, the spectators croAvded around 
him for a moment, and one or tAvo soldiers said, 'how are you, 
Wirz ? ' as if Avishing to get him to recognize them. The guard 
promptly prevented any one coming near him or speaking to him, 
but he seemed to have an instinctive dread of the spectators, for 
he shrunk back and sought protection of the guard, as if'he ap- 
prehended some violence being done him." 



40 

WILLIAM C. PITT'S HARDSHIP-^ ON THE MARCH. 



Before proceeding ■with the Andci'(50nville horrors, it will, 
perhaps, be proper to give pome observations of Mr. W. C. 
Pitt, "which did not coine, under the eye of Mr. Anderson for 
this reason, vi-::: Mlthough tncy were capturesl at the same time, 
they "svcre sometimes separated; and while their general ex- 
perience was very nearly the same, there Avere some occurrences 
on the raarch from Chicamaug;i to which Pitt was a separate 
witness. 

After his capture, and wliile being guarded by the 26th 
Alabama to the rear, the woods were found to be on fire, and 
hundreds of deac]^ and wounded were being consumed in tlie 
flames, shot and shell were flying in every direction, tree tops 
were boino' mowed down, and branches falling in every direction. 
One particular case came under Pitt's observation, which elicited 
his sympathy to the extreme. It was the case of a poor wounded 
soldier who w^as shot through the leg near the knee, and Avas so 
manoled that he could not help himself. The whole case is 
fully explained in the language of Mr. Pitt himself better than 
it could be done by any other person in the following words: 

" One poor v.ounded u}an lay near a burning brush heap, and 
as I went by he called in a piteous tone to help him out of /his 
a^-onv: one foot was already burnt to a cinder; and I stooped 
down Avith the intention of relieving him from his misery; but 
as I Avas in the act of raising him from the devouring element, 
I heard the at ell knoAA-n sound of the click of a gun; I looked 
around, and the guard had hi^ musket raised and hammer 
• cocked ready to fire, and said to me: 'You Yankee son of a b., 
let that man lay thar, or I'll be done shootin' a hole through 
you.' Yv'ith regret I resumed my sad march for I preferred 
my life to certain death to both of us." 

In going through Augusta, the people were very insulting, 



41 

particularly the Avoiueu, who used all kinds of improper lau- 
,^ua!ie, talkinn; in a worse vernacular than Pitt had ever heard 
in his life, nor was this all they threw nnid and missies of var- 
ious kinds, and to cap the climax, threw the slops fi'om their 
(diamhei' windows at the prisonei'S. Their conduct hecame so 
furious and exceedingly bad, that the Col. who had charge of 
the prisoners, threatened that if they did not desist, he would 
turn the prisoners loose on the town. This hud the effect to 
check them, but they still kept Avaving the rebel flag, and mak- 
ing v«ry faces and indicating their hostility, by various ges- 
tures, such as shaking their lists, putting their thumbs to their 
noses, and wagging the other digits in a contemptuous way. 

.Vt Smith's building Kichmond, clothing and rations were 
sent from home. Such as the rebel authorities deemed proper 
were given the men in the ^^line of clothing, but innnediately a 
great many rebels were to be observed in new blue uniforms, it 
was natural to infer that our men did not get all that was sent. 
As to the rations the prisoners could see onions, potatoes, meat, 
coifee, crackers, sugar and besides a great supply of other things 
sent by the Sanitary Commission, carried into the building and 
could here hear the rebel guards opening the boxes at night. 
This was a general store house for all the prisoners in Rich- 
mond. Those confined in this building being aware of the 
great amount of stores, naturally enpected to get a supply, but 
were doomed to a sad disappointment. All that they received 
was three crackers per day for about five days, the balance of 
course went into rebels hands. From Smith's building, llicli- 
mond, ]Mr. Pitt and his fellow captives were taken to Danville. 

At Danville these suffering men Avere placed in prison No. 5, 
where they were subjected to all kinds of hardship and insult. 
The prison was a tobacco factory and the men were placed on 
the different floors. Pitt and his fellows being on the third. 
There Avcre 1,400 in all, distributed so as to occupy the four 
stories of the house. The small pox broke out at such a rate 

(7 



42 

t 

that from thirty to fifty patients were carried out on some days 
to the small pox hospital. The order came to vacinate all the 
prisoners, the work Avas immediately begun and prosecuted with 
vigor. Pitt declined going through the operation. 

The vaccination produced large sores on the arms of the vic- 
tims, and after a time many had to have the vaccinated arm am- 
putated to save their lives. 

At this place about one hundred prisoners made their escape 
l)y tunnelling they got access to the cellar and commenced their 
operations and pretty soon they had a finished tunnel to a point 
behind a fence and beyond the guards. 

When the rebs ascertained the escape ol" these men, they 
ordered those on the first floor to the others above. They Avere 
already full to suffocation, but that made no difference. The 
rebs seemed to think that their prison was like an omnibus, and 
ceuld always take in a few more : So these poor follows were 
crowded and packed together, and a strong guard was placed at 
the foot of the stairway to prevent any further attempt at es- 
cape. 

This poor packed miserable crowd of" men were kept until the 
next day towards evening without food or Avater, and without 
the privilege of going to the sinks I The horrible condition o f 
the case can be imagined, but it is too revolting to describe. 

Pitt, in going through all these hardships, got reduced almost 
to a skeleton. His usual Aveight is about 160 pounds, and this 
was his weight when he was captured at Chicamauga. What a 
change after his long sufferings on the march and in the various 
prisons I He happened to get a chance of being weighed at the 
company's quarters in Danville, and found his Aveight to be 83 
pounds, or about his usual Aveight I Can any fact however 
presented give a more striking illustration of the hardships and 
sufferino-s of the unfortunates Avho had the ill fortune to be reduced 
to the condition of a prisoner of Avar in the so-called Southern 
Confederacy ? Pitt had no disease, chronic or ortherwise. He 



43 

is a strong able-bodied man, with an iron constitution, and "waiS 
never sick one hour in prison, or during the whole term of his 
service in the Union army. Pitt's condition at this time was 
wholly attributable to the treatment he received and the hard- 
ships imposed on him in the way of hard marching, short 
rations, inadequate shelter, want of rest, close confinement, &:c. 

FURTHER PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND OBSER- 
VATION AT ANDERSONVILLE. 



The prisoners had heard of Camp Sumter, or the Anderson- 
ville prison to which they were destined, and of course human 
nature on such an occasion must give way to some feelings and 
emotions. These men in passing into the gates in many cases 
experienced the same emotions that in other times victims felt 
in passing the "Bridge of Sighs" in Venice. And the supper- 
less and sleepless nights in the heavy dew without shelter, add- 
ed the their first anxieties with regard to the horrors of their 
situation. The morning view of matters and things around 
them did not serve to dispel, but to increase these anxieties. 
They found themselves in a pen called a prison containing at 
that time about 20 dens. This pen Avas subsequently enlarged 
to the proportion shown by the map. 

The next thing was to find out their true condition and cir- 
cumstances. The first thing to which their attention was called 
was the dead line. This was a line marked by stakes being 
driven into the ground, and a rough extension of railing, the 
whole being only three or four feet high. They soon learned 
their position with regard to that line all of which is fully ex- 
plained in the official charges against Capt. Wirz. It may as 
well be remarked however that many a poor fellow getting tired 
of starvation ajid the miseries surrounding, and preferring his 
chances in another world to the misires of their condition com- 



44 

mitted the act oi Fclo cle se by getting liiinselt' to or beyond 
the limits of the dead line; Avhich was certain to bring about his 
object, for the guards never failed to kill a man thus situated, 
or if they did not, failed in the attempt. It was well understood 
that any guard on duty, who killed a prisoner at the dead line 
would receive favors from head-quarters. He could demand 
and receive a furlough of from ten to thirty days at once. 

Fifteen feet from the dead line, and enclosing it was the in- 
ner stockade as represented on the ma]). This was about seven- 
teen feet high, and was constructed of square pine timbers in- 
serted into theground end wise to the distance of nbout six 
feet, and were placed as colsc as possible. 

On the outside and attached to this stockade Avere twenty- 
two stoops or platforms placed at a convient distance from each 
other and elevated to a sufficient height to command a perfect 
view of the dead line and of the Avholc camp. These were the 
sentry stands and were reached by stairs on tlie outside. An- 
other stockade enclosed the one above described and was built 
in the same manner with round logs. It was Avas from 12 to 
14 feet high and fifteen rods distant. 

A third constructed in about the same style as the second, 
but only the eight feet high, enclosed the second at a distance oi" 
about 40 feet. 

The fortifications Avere outside the stockades, and in position 
and shape as represented on the map. A glance at the AS'orks 
Avas sufficient to destroy nearly every vestage of hope of escape 
tlie captives naturally turned their attention to the condition of 
things more closely surrounding them. 

The first thing attracting tlieir attention Avas the fact that 
they Avere under the greatest general of the rebel army, namely 
General StarA'ation; and the first morning after meeting Avith 
Captain Wirz they began to learn more of that being, and found 
out pretty nearly Avhat mercy Avoidd be received at hir. hands. 
He rode in on his inevitable ffrev mare, and called out; "Now 



45 

you find out, poys, who Captain Wir/, is; now joa tall inciuick, 
or I give you no prcakfast I" 

They fell in, but not before Captain Wirz had a, chance to 
draw his revolver, and threaten several men in a most insultiuL;; 
manner, and the rations were distributed. The consisted for 
each man of a pint of corn meal and four ounces of meat. The 
corn meal was made from corii and cob _2;round t02;cther, and 
after all it was not so well ground that it Avas not unusual to 
find Avhole grains of corn in the meal. The men had nothing; 
to cook tlieir provisions in. They mixed the meal with water, 
and pasted it on a chip of wood, or anything they could fin<l 
to ansAver their purpose, and baked it before the fire. 

The next misery was that although timber is an encumberance 
to the ground in all that region, they could not procure enough, 
even if they had cooking utensils to do the cooking properly. 
The reason of the scantiness of wood grew out of the fact that 
a sufficient number of men Avere never detailed to get an ample 
supply. 

T''lie serious question in the minds of the prisoners Avas as to 
hoAV long they could survive on such rations. With a great 
many that question Avas soon solved. Every morning the dead 
Avagon camein to carry off those Avho had expired the preceeding. 
night. The dead Avagon that carried out the corpses came bock 
loaded Avith corn meal or meat for rations. The captives Avho 
bad been in the penfortAvo months previous to the arrival of 
Pitt Avere mere skeletons or shadoAvs of men, very ragged and 
were as black as negroes. The blackness came from sitting 
close to their pine Avood fires, the scantiness of Avood making it 
necessary to retain but very small fires and the Aveather l)eing so 
cold that it Avas necessary to get close to or over the fire to pre- 
vent freezing; furthermore they had no soap to Avash off the ac- 
cumulating blackness. The union soldier thus situated could 
be fully justified in repeating the lines of John Keats. 



46 



" My spirits lamp is laint aud weak, 

My feeble senses bow, 
Death's finger pales my fading clieek, 

His seal ie on my bi'ow. 

My heart is as a withered leaf, 

Each fibre dead and sere. 
And near me sits the Specter grief, 

To di'ain each burning tear. 

The earth is bright with buds and bees, 
The air with purple beams, 

The winds are swimming in the (reess, 
Or sporting on the streams. 

But not for me the blossoms breath, 

Nor winds nor sunny skies, 
I languish in the arms death, 

And feed my soul with sighs. 

It is not that I fear to die. 
Thai burns uiy wiihered brow, ' 

I'ut thus to wasti- with agony. 
And sigh and Avisli foi- rest." 



CAV'W AVTEZ AND HIS BLOODHOUNDS. 



The prisoners soon l»egau to learn more of the horrors by 
which they were snri-oiindtMl and ]yroniinent .among them was 
the fact that if they luaih' their escape from the stockade they 
would be hunted down by bloodiiounds kept for that purpose. 
These hounds wei'o owned by a man hy the name of Turner, who 
lived and kennelled his hounds at a distance of from 80 to 100 
rods from the outer stockade. 

They numbered ].") to 2<( in tlie pack more or less owing to 
circumstances. Some of them l>eing owned by the rebel Sur- 
geons, and were only hired to Turner l>y the term, and wheti 
their owners did not want to use them for sporting purposes, 
but at all times Turner Jiad a sufficient number to answer hia 
tiendish purposes. Jilvery morning T'urner took his hounds and 
patrolled around the camp, taking a circle of about two miles 



47 

from the camp for the purpose of finding a fresh track. If one 
was found, the hounds immediately followed. The only escape 
for the prisoner from being torn or mangled by the hounds was 
to climb a tree, and then his case was not better, the whole de- 
pending entirely upon the frame of mind that Mr. Turner might 
be in upon his arrival for if he Avas irritated at the length of 
time or trouble of catching the runaway, or for any other cause 
he A\ould after the man descended, set the dogs on him and lot 
them bite and tear the victim until his wrath was appeased, he 
did not allow the hounds to kill the man for that reason that 
when he delivered him alive he received thirty dollars " per 
head." 

On these excursions in tlie morning, Oapt. Wirz very fre- 
(jucntly accompanied Turner, audit was remarkable that he did 
80 when there was a pretty "sure thing" in finding game. Capt. 
Wirz remained the same stern inflexible man, the same identi- 
cal character during the whole time of his administration. He 
rode the identical gray mare, and carried the same old revolvers 
from beginining to end. When he had caught a fugitive he 
never varied from his rule of putting him in the stocks. It 
may be as well to describe the stocks that were used before pro- 
ceeding any further. They Avere made of planks and so con- 
structed that in the day time a man confined in them would be 
compelled to stand all day, his neck being placed in a hole in two 
planks just large enough to receive it. At night his legs Avere 
placed each one through a hole similar to the one his neck had 
been during. the day. At night the confined man had to remain 
on his back, not being able to change his position. Just at this 
point in writing of this narrative, the following was handed to 
me. It is from the Daily Wisconsin of Milwaukee, and has the 
stamp on its face of genuineness, the AVisconsin does not say 
where it it came from, but as other printed statements have 
been admitted in this work. Wirz, own statement, of course 
could not in any sense of fairness be Omitted. His letter is as 
follows : 



48 
WIR7/ ACCOUNT OK FilAISELF 



AMtEii.-^nxviLLE, Ga., May 7, 1865. 

It is ^vitl) LTi'cat reluctance that I addre;;.s you these lincy, 
being i'ully aware how little time is left you to attend to such 
matters as 1 now liavc the iionoi- to lay hot'ore you. 1 am a 
native of Switzerland, and Avas before the war a citizen of 
Louisiana, by profession a physician. Like hundreds and 
thousands of others, I was carried aAvay by the nuilestrom of 
excitement and joined tlie Srmthei-n aiMiiy. 1 was very seriously 
wouiuled at the battle of the Seven I'ines near Richmond, Ya., 
and have nearly lost the use of my I'ia'ht aim. Unlit for field 
duty, I Avas ordered to report to Brevet General John II. 
AVinder,in chai'ge of Federal prisoners of war, who ordered me 
to take charge of a prison in Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

!My health failing me, I applied for a furlough and Avent to 
Europe, from Avhence I returned in February, 18(34; I Avas then 
ordered to report to the commandant of the military prison at 
Andersonville, Ga., avIio assigned me to the command of the 
interior of the prison. The duties I had to perform Avere 
arduous and unpleasant, and am satisfied that no man can or 
Avill blame me for things that happened here, and Avhich Avere 
beyond my poAver to control. I do not think that I ought to be 
held responsible for the shortness of rations, for the over- 
croAvded state of the prison, Avhich Avas in itself a prolific source 
of the fearful mortality, for the inadequate supplies of clothing, 
Avant of shelter, tfcc, tSic; still I noAV bear the odium, and men 
Avho Avere prisoners here seem disposed to Avreak their vengeance 
upon me for what they have suffered, avIio Avas only the medium, 
or, I may better say, the tool in the hands of my superiors 
This is my condition; I am a man Avith a family; I lost all my 
property Avhen the Federal army besieged Vicksburg; I have no 
money at present to go any place, and even if I had I knoAV of 



49 

no place whcvc I could <^()\ uiy life is in danj^er, and 1 most 
)-ospcctfully ask of 3'ou liclp and relief. If you will be so 
generous as to give me some sort of a safe conduct, or what I 
should greatly prefer a guard to protect myself and family 
against violence, I. shall be thankful to you, and you may rest 
assured that your protection will not be given to one who is 
unworthy of it. My intention is to return with my family to 
Europe as soon as I can make the arrangements. In the mean- 
time, I have the honor. General, to remain, very respectfully, 
your obedient servant, H. Y. WiRZ, Captain C.S. A. 

Major Ueneral J. J I. Wilson, United States Army, com- 
manding Macon, Georgia. 

This letter atlmits the whole case of the suffering and is ai 
sununed up in the single sentence of Capt. Wirz's letter 
" I do not think that I ought to be held responsible for the 
shortness of rations for the overcroAvded state of the prison 
which was in itself a prolific source of fearful mortality for the 
inadequate supplies of clothing, vrant of shelter, &c,, &c." 

This sentence means and contains a very large amount of use- 
ful information from a proper source. It is from the man in 
charge of this channel house. It was indeed a fearful moretal- 
ity. Thirteen thousand of our patriotic soldiers sleep their 
last sleep in the trenches called the burying ground of this 
modern Golgatha. The life of each one of these departed men 
was of as much consequence to him as that of Jeff Davis is to 
to him, or that of Capt. Wirz, is now to himself in this hour of 
tribulation. Capt. Wirz does not inform who is responsible. 

" Pouble, double toil and trouble. 
" Five buni and cauldi-on bubble.'' 

Heretofore the men had been calculating how long they were 
to live or rather how soon starvation would end their miseries, 
when a new trouble arose. Detachments of additional prisoners 
arrived every few days until the . number amounted to about 
20,000 in the stockade before its enlargement. It at this time 



50 

contained about twenty-two acres. U now became a serious 
c|uestion as to how soon they were to be suffocated. The crowd 
was so great that it became impossible to call the roll. At least 
7,000 or about one third of the whole number had no kind of 
shelter, neither had they blankets. They slept in the streets or 
wherever they could get a resting place. To add to the misery 
in the already sufficiently bad state of things in June there was 
about twenty-four days of incessant rain. Of course the dead 
wagons liad plenty of business. They began their business 
early in the morning and continued it generally nearly all day. 
There was what w^as called a hospital on the outside, but 
not one quarter of the exhausted sick and dying could get to it. 
Every morning men were found dead in the crowded stockade, 
and were carted off to their final resting place. It was now 
with the men, a question as to whether they were doomed to 
starvation by a slow process, or to die by suffocation in the 
crowded pen. One or the other seemed inevitable sooner oi- 
later. Vermin abounded to such an extent that they impregna- 
ted the sand through the whole camj). The soil is one continu- 
ed bed of sand. A person could take up a handful of sand and 
place it in the sun on a shingle, and pretty soon the quantity 
would be diminished by the creeping out of these pests. The 
one making the experiment need not go to any particnlai- hieal- 
ity, but could arrive at the same results in any portion uf the 
pen. It was remarked before, that in June there Avere 24 days 
rain. In this continued storm, a portion of the stockade at the 
creek which passes through the pen, Avashed away, affording 
(juite a chance of escape, but no one availed himself of it. 
The reason was, every one was so weak, drenclied and emacia- 
ted that there was no courage or ambition left. Abcut the first 
day of July, the Stockade Avas enlarged to the dimensions rep- 
resented on the map, bat prisoners still kept pouring in until 
the number Avas swelled to thirty-tAvo thousand. So tiie case 
Avas not made so much better as at first glance might be imagin- 



51 

cd. In filer, it every day </vew worse from the accumulation of 
filth. 

No shelter was given the men in the way of tents or other- 
Avise and the only protection from the rays of the burning sun, 
was aftbrdcd to the lucky few who by hook or by crook retained 
their blankets, these were managed by Yankee ingenuity to be 
converted into some kind of protection against the heat and 
cold, but a very large majority of the prisoners had not even 
this poor comfort. They had been robbed of their blankets by 
orders from high authority. The suflering grew more intense 
day by day, each succeeding day making matters worse. The 
water which was none too good at the outset became day by day 
more filthy, and the creek called Sweet Creek had become so 
outrageously filthy that it was scarcely fit to batli in. This 
Sweet Creek passes through the camp as represented on the 
map, and besides the washings of filth from the stockade received 
before entering it, the washings of filth from the rebel camp 
above. 

After awhile the prisoners conceived the idea of digging 
wells, but they had no shovels or other implements usually used 
for such purposes, still they managed to dig wells. They used 
portions of used up canteens or any other implement that would 
scoop up the earth. Of course the v»^ells were produced by an 
immense amount of labor and the exercise of unexampled 
patience. 

They succeeded in this way in getting purer water, but the 
filth and malaria was increasing from day to day and the list 
of mortality increased in a corresponding ratio. During the 
months of July, August and September the deaths numbered 
betAveen two and three thousand per month. Fifty men Avere 
constantly employed in digging the burial trenches and burying 
the dead, or rather covering them up, it cannot be called a chris- 
tian burial. The trenches Avere four feet deep, seven feet Avide, 
and 160 feet long, with a direction East and West. In these 



52 

trenches the corpses were placed, their bodies being in a North and 
South direction, over one hundred being phiced in one trench, the 
heads being placed to the North. When the bodies were thrown 
into the trenches in rather a careless manner, the nextthino- was 
to cover them up, and then the next business was to place head 
boards, but as these were placed at equal distances after the 
trenches liad been filled, it would be very questionable whether 
a relative of the deceased who sought to re-inter at home the 
remains of his martyred friend Avould get the right body or not. 

But to think of the appalling mortality when it was in its 
extreme in July, August and September, and reduce it to a 
practical view is perfectly astounding. Some place it as high 
as 3,000 per month, others at 2,000 and over. 

The grounds in which thseso victims were confined were hardly 
enough unobstructed to give a school boy his morning exercises. 
They contained only about 40 acres of land; now if the extreme 
number of deaths be taken as the guide, then in round numbers 
there were carried from this small pen and tlie adjacent hospital 
one hundred bodies per da}^ The minimun makes the number 
sixty-six. 

Any city in Christendom showing one half that mortality in 
proportion to the number of inbabitants would be deserted by 
tJie entire population in three days. In this case however there 
was no chance of escape, and the poor victims could only re- 
main and be witnesses to the liorrible scenes around them, and 
each one "bide his time." 

As to the departed heroes who were thus sacrificed or tor- 
tured to death, merely because they served their country faith- 
fully and became martyrs on the altar of their country, its 
constitution and laws, they were doubtless immediately more 
luippy on their departure for " that undiscovered country fro m 
Avhose bourne no traveller returns" than thosewho were compell- 
ed to remain and suffer. Could not the departing men with 
propriety adopt the language of Mozart in his requiem. 



53 



" Spirit, thy labor is o'er, 
Thy term of probation is gone, 
Thy steps are now bound for the untrodden shore, 
And the race of immortals begun. 

Spirit! look not on the strife 
Of pleasures of earth with regret — 
Pause not on the threshold of limitless life, 
To mourn for the day that is set. 

("ipirit! no fetters can bind, 
No wicked have power to molest; 
There the weary, like thee, the wretched shall find 
-V haven — a mansion of rest. 



Spirit! how bright is the road 
For which thou art now on the wing! 
Thy home it will be with thy Savior and God, 
Their loud hallelujahs to sing 7' 



LIST OF WISCONSIN SOLDIERS WHO DIED AT 
ANDERSONVILLE, GEORGIA. 

36 G W Forducy, private, company C, 7th Wis., March 12, 1S64, dysentery. 
68 .7 J Schleason, Corp., company F, 7th Wis., March 19, 1864, dysentery. 

303 Carl Helt, private, company E, 26th AVis., April 2, 1864, dysentry. 

440 H. Shrigley, private, company G, ICth Wis., Aprils, 1864, diarrhea. 

608 J Palmer, Corporal, company C, 7th Wis., April 17, 1864, diarrhea. 

710 A C Hale, private, company I, 21st Wis., April 24, 1864, Feb. Typ. 

884 P Winters, private, company M, 1st Cav., May 5, 1864, diarrhea. 

929 A C Webster, Sergeant, company E, 7th Inf., May 7, 1864, bronchitis. 
1002 .J Haskins, private, company E, 1st Inf., May 10, dysentery. 
1009 .{ Walder, private, company F, 1st Cav., May 10, 1864, chronic 

diarrhea. 
1165 J Kummilt, private, company H, 1st Inf., May 17, 1864, diarrhea. 
1260 C W Fuller, Corporal, company E, 7th Inf., May 21, 1864, chronic 

diarrhea. 
1341 H Bowen, private, company A, 1st Inf., May 24, dysentery. 
1529 Gilbert, Sergeant, company K, lOth Inf., June 1, 1834, diarrhea. 
1.591 E Duffey, private, company L, 1st Cav., June 3, 1864. diarrhea. 
1605 H H Hoffland, Sergeant, company K, 15th Inf., June 5, 18G4, diarrhea. 
1752 J Mangen, Corporal, company H, 24th Inf., June 8, 1864, anasarca. 
1838 Bush, private, company B, 15th Inf., June 11, 1864, Feb. Typ. 



54 

1896 J Milligan, private, company B, Ist Inf., June 13, 1864, Jiarrlica. 
1909 M S "Welton, private, company L, Isfc Cav., June 13, 1S64, diarrhea. 
2003 — Jacobson, Corporal, company D, 15lh Inf., June 15, 1864, diarrhea. 
2055 n Bail, private, company A, 7th Wis., June 16, 1864. scurvy. 
2113 J R, Alevrynes, private, company E. 24th Wis., June 18, 1864, scurvy. 
2128 H A Bowhan, Sergt., company F, 10th Wis., June 18, 1864, anasarca. 
2148 S AV Turney, private, company D. 21st Wis., June 18, 1864, diarrhea. 

A Ronch, private, company F, 21st Wis.. .Jane 18, 1864, diarihea. 

2283 W H Fountain, private, company A, IGth Inf., June 21, 1864, diarrhea. 
2309 J S Uppell, private, company B, 15th Inf., June 22, 1864, dysentery. 
2344 E Brooks, private, company H, 1st Cav., June 22, 1864, dysentery. 
2360 A Church, private, company II, 7th Inf., June 23, 1864, scurvy. 

2384 J Hanson, privote, company K, 15th Inf., June 23, 1864, scurvy. 
2385, T Fay, private, company K, 1st Inf , June 24th, 1864, dysentery. 
2393 F Grash, private, combany I, 10th Inf., June 24, 1864, dysentery. 
2419 J Enger, private, company F, 15th Inf., Jane 24th, 1864, diarrhea. 
2457 C F Boomer, Corp., company I, 10th Inf., June 24, 1864, diarrhea. 
2498 J Knudson, private, company E, 15th Inf., June 26, 1864, diarrhea. 
2522 E Dambrochler, private, company I, 26th Inf., June 26, 1864, diarrhoa^ 

2535 A Plum, private, company K. 4th Cav., June 26th, 1864, diarrhea. 

2536 B F Hough, Corp., company K, 10th Inf., June 27, 1864, dysentery. 
2588 11 Tomlinson, private, company D, 6th Inf., June 28, 1864, dysentery. 
2591 G Winchester, private, company I, 21st Inf.. June 28, 1864, scurvy. 

S B Waller, private, company G, 21st Inf., June 17, 1864, diarrhea. 

2663 J Chapman, private, company G, 2d Inf., June 29, 1864, diarrhea. 
^681 Broms, private, company G, lotli Inf., June 30, 1864, diarrhea. 
2732 W McMan, private, company G, 3d Battery, July 1, 1864, diarrhea. 
2817 R. Stiffer, private, company F, 15th Inf., July 8, 1864, dysentery. 
2847 A Peterson, Corp., company K, 15th Inf., July 3, 1864, diarrhea 
2951 E McCormich, private, company L, 1 Cav., July 6, 1864, dysentery. 
2954 H Vohost, private, company L, 1 Cav., July 6, 1864, diai-rhea. 
2969 D Cowles, private, company B, 10 Inf., July 6, 1864, bronchitis. 
3009 P Lack, private, company A, 7tli Inf, July 7, 1864, diarrhea. 

3076 J Vetter, private company F, 6th Inf., July 0, 1864, diarrhea. 
3078 F. Sirbert, private, company C, 24tti Inf. July 9, 1864, diarrhea. 
3120 D D Thompson private, company 36th Inf., July 9, 1864, dysentery, 
8162 Oleson, private, company B, loth Inf., July 11, 1864, diarrhea, 
3164 H Guth, private, company D, 1st Inf., July, 11, 1864, diarrhea. 
8244 J Daygo, private, company L, 1st. Cav. July 13, 1861, bronchitis. 
8258 J Brown, private, company H, 4th Cav., July 13, 1764, pneumonia. 
3282 S Cumminga, private, company A, 2l8t Inf,, July 14, 1864, diarrhea. 



55 

3376 J Tjler, Corp., company A, lOth Inf., July, 16, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
3878 Charles Went, private, company B, 7th Inf., July 16, 1864, diarrhea. 
8390 DGreenman, Sergt.. company K, 21st Inf , July 16, 1864, dysentery. 
3503 W Shoop, private, company G, Ist Wis., July 18, 1864, diarrhea. 
3511 J B Pickett, Corp., company F, 1st Wis.. July 13, 1864, diarrhea. 
3583 J Sutton, private, company B, 10th Wis., July 19, 18G4, diarrhea. 
3624 II Beu3eler, private, company G, 2d Wis., July 20, 1864 di.irrhea. 
36 J5 Chas McSanlin private, company I, 36th Wis., July 20, 1864 diarrhea. 
3661 C P Tucker, private, company I, 1st Wis., July 20, 18G4, diarrhea. 
3665 F S Reynolds, private, company K, 10th Wis., July 20, 1864, 

dysentery. 
3673 Henry Bruce, private, company H, 24th Wis., July 20, 1864, diarrhea. 
3720 Henderson, private, company F, 15th Wis., July 21, 1864, typhoid 

fever. 
3828 R Urane, Drummer, company D, 7th Wis., July 23, 1864, diarrhea. 
4133 Jas B Kellett, Corp., company B, 21st Wis., July 28, 1864, intermittent 

fever. 
4289 K Nelson, private, company K, loth Wis., July :!0, 1864, scurvy. 
4340 M Pardy, private, company E, 10th Wis., July 30, 1864, diarrhea. 
4343 J W Sharp, private, company G, 2d Wis., July 30, 1864, diarrhea. 
4378 W II Smith, private, company B, 10th Wis., July 31, 1864, scurvy. 
4390 C Chapel, private, company E, 1st Inf., June 31, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
4405 L Kull, private, company C, 24th Inf., June 31, 1884, chronic diarrhea- 
4436 J Shun, private, company H, 24th Inf., June 30, 1864, diarrhea. 
4467 A L Taylor, private, company E, 25th Inf., Aug. 1, 1864, diarrhea. 
4477 Isaac Austin, private, company G, 25th inf., Aug. 1, diarrhea, 
4542 Nelson, private, company B, 10thl[nf., Aug. 2, 1864, scurvy. 
4570 F Halts, private, company C, 26th Inf., Aug. 26, 1864, scurvy. 
4614 C W Kellips, private, company E, 1st Cav , Aug. 3, 1864, scurvy. 
4706 D Wakefield, private, company K, 25th Inf., Aug. 4, 1864, diarrhea. 
4788 E G Scott. Sergt., company D, 21st Inf., Aug. 5, 1864, diarrhea. 
4882 John SlingerUw, private, company L, 1st Cav., Aug. 6, 1864, diarrhea. 
4925 E H Matherson, private, company E, 2d Inf., Aug. 6, 1864, diarrhea. 
4890 M S Northam, Sergt, Company C, 10th Inf., Aug. 7, 1864, diarrhea. 
4997 G. Reed, private, company K, 1st Inf, Aug. 7, 1864, dysentery. 
5007 AV K Forslay, private, company K, 8th Inf., Aug. 8, 1864, scurvy. 
5026 H Briggs, private, company C, Ist Cav., Aug. 8, 1864, dysentery. 
5042 J Murray, private, company D, 24th Inf., Aug. 8, 1864, diarrhea. 
5100 John Budson, private, company L, Ist Cav., August 9, 1864, scurvy. 
5102 John Cavenough, private, company H, Ist Inf., Aug. 9, 1864, scurvy. 
5241 A Abbott, Sergeant, company D, 1st Inf, Aug. 10, 1864, scurvy. 



56 

5312 F B Howard, private, company K, lOth la!'., Aug. 10, 1864, pleurif^y. 
5322 E Briggs, private, company L, 1st Cav., Aug. 11, 1864, scurvy. 
5397 J N Livingston, private, company E, 3rcl Art., Aug. 12, 1864, anasar. 
5453 C B Allen, private, company G, 2ncl Inf., Aug. 12, vul slop. 
5472 Geo Angler, private, company F, 10th Inf., Aug. 13, 1864, scurvy. 
5557 M Greenwall, private, company C, 1st Cav., Aug. 13, 1864, dysentery. 
5564 W Bailey, Corporal, company E, 25tli Inf., Aug. 13, 1864, vul sclop. 
5628 A Holenbach, private, company D, 25tli Inf., Aug. 14, 1864, vul sclop. 
5683 P Monies, private, company D, 10th Inf., Aug. 15, 1864, scurvy. 
5739 Henry Main, private, company F, SOth Inf., Aug. 15, 1864, diarrhea. 
5759 Oscar Fluno, private, company 11, 1st Cav., Aug. 15, 1864, diarrhea. 
q792 .J Rassmusson, private, company L, 1st Cav., Aug. 15, 1864, dysentery. 
5811 J B Fish, Sergeant, company H, 1st Cav., Aug. 16, 1864, dirrrhca. 
5830 Fred Destler, private, company G, 24th Inf., Aug. 16, 1864, diarrhea. 
6088 Wm Bobinson, Corporal, company C, 10th Inf., Aug. 18, 1864, scurvy. 
6090 Wm. Nichols, private, company I, 10th Inf., Aug. 18, 1864, dysentery. 
6097 D FrisQor, Sergt., company A, ."(Uh Inf., Aug- 18, 18G4, icturus. 
6160 C Erickson, private company B 16th Inf. Aug. 16, 1864, cerebritus. 
6204 S Burrick, private, company I, 17th Inf., Aug. 20, 1864, scurvy. 
6231 A McClury, private, company E, 10th Inf., Aug. 20, 1864, chronic 

diarrhea. 
62.^6 Wm Farrow, private, company A, 1st Inf., Aug. 20, 1804, dysentery. 
6377 F Messer, private, company K, oth Inf., Aug. 21, 186.5, scurvy. 
6406 J. Pronis, private, company F, 17th Inf., Aug. 22, 1764, vul. sclop. 
6418 C C Can-ier, private, company F, 21st Inf , Aug. 22, 1764, vul. sclop. 
6468 A W Hale, private, company I, 21st Inf., Aug. 22, 1864, diarrhea. 
6614 John E Goom, private, company G, 36th Inf., Aug. 23, 1865, diarrhea. 
6642 G Lansing, private, company A, 10th Inf., Aug, 23, 1864, scurvy. 
6858 T Taylor, private, company E, 6th Inf., Aug. 20, 1864, Dysentery. 
6938 J R Jermings, Corp., company G, 4.jth Inf., Aug. 26, 1864, diarrhea. 
6943 E Starr, private, company F, 16th Inf., Aug. 26, 1864, vul. sclop. 
6967 Bery Dich, private, company G, SOth Inf.^ July 27, 1864, scurvy. 
7149 B Hutchings, private, company E, 1st Cav., July 29, 1864, diarrhea. 
7160 P Thorn private, company L, 1st Cav., July 29, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
7235 F Lowe, private company G, 16th Inf., July 29, 1864, scurvy 
7295 J Bailey, private, company I, 36th Inf., July GO, 1864, dysentery. 
7323 J Burke, private, company E, 10th Inf., July 30, 1864, gangrene. 
73-55 L GremdSj private, company 1, 15th Inf, July 31, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
7455 J F Davis, private, company B, 36th Inf., Sept., 1, 18G4, diarrhea. 
7522 M Lawson, private, company B, 15th Inf., Sept. 1, 1864, dysentery. 
7530 J Pardy, private, company I, 10th Inf., Sept. 1, 1864, scurvy. 



67 

7G14 M Seaman, Sergeant, company D, 21th Inf., Sept. 2, l8tJl, dysentery. 
7649 L Hanson, private, company B, 15th Inf., Sept. 3, 1864, scurvy. 
7755 E Bordon, Corp., company K, 21st Inf., Sept. 4, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
7751) r Boyle, private, company B, 25tli Inf., Sept. 4, 1864, diain-hca. 
7791 W H Harding, Sergeant, company C, 21st Inf , Sept. 4, 1864, scurvy. 
7893 S Peterson, private, company K, loth Inf., Sept. 5, 1864, scurvy. 
8105 G M Chase, Corporal, company A, 1st Inf., Sept. 7, 1864, diarrhea. 
8168 L Smith, private, company K, 4th Cav., Sept. 8, 1864, diarrhea. 
8299 M Kinds, private, company A, 21st Inf, Sept. 9, 1864, scurvy. 
8326 D Group, private, company II, 4th, Cav., Sept. 10, 1804, Gangrene. 
8359 H Vanscorter, private, company C, 1st Cav., Sept. 10, 1864, gangrene. 
8427 J Vanderbilt, private, company D, 30th Inf., Sept. 11, 1864, scurvy. 
8460 W B Farnham, private, company K. 4th Cav., Rcpt. 11, 1864, scurvy. 
8500 A Frontman, private, company K, 2d Inf., Sept. 12, 1864, scurvy. 
8515 A J Pillsberry, private, company H, 1st Cav., Sept. 12, 1894, gangrene, 
8562 W Kendall, private, company E, o2d Inf., Sept. 12, 1S64, diarrhea. 
8576 J Batchellor, private, company I, 1st. Inf., Sept. 12, 1864, diarrhea. 
8584 M High, private, company E, 25th Inf., Sept. 12, 1804, vul. sclop. 
8587 A Depas, priv.'.te, company A, 21st Inf., Sept, 12, 1864, dysentery. 
8601 S Ellenwood, Sergt. company C, 10th Inf., Sept. 12, 1864, diarrhea. 
8014 J Inghan., private, company K, 10th Inf. Sept. 13, 1864, scurvy. 
8641 CC Bushu, Corp., company B, 2d Inf., Sept. 13, 1864, chronic diarrhea. 
8'"f^4 J Patterson, private, company A, 21st Inf. Sept. 13, 1864, scurvy. 
8592 A F Adams, private, company E, 36ih Inf., Sept. 14, 1864, scurvy. 
8944 F Lairch, private, company K, 26th Inf., Sept. 10, 1804, scurvy. 
9014 H Pointer, Sergt , company F, 10th Inf., Sept. 17, 1804, diarrhea. 
9073 VVm Kerreger, private, company 0, 36th Inf, Sept. 17, 1854, diarrhea. 
9160 G Carlentyrc, private, company G, 23d Inf., Sept. 18. 1804, scurvy. 
9333 D Haller, private, company D, 12th Inf., Sept. 20, 1864, scurvy. 
9337 S Ericson, private, company U, 30th Inf., Sept. 20, 1864, dysentery. 
9461 C Peterson, private, company I, 15th Inf., Sept. 21, 1864, scurvy. 
9458 W B Woodward, private, company A, 1st Inf., Sept. 22, 1864, scurvy. 
9607 J Blinknar, private, company A, 2d Inf., Sept. 23, 1864, scurvy. 
9604 F Ferguson, Sergt., company A, 15th Inf., Sept. 24, 1864, diarrhea. 
9693 M Snyder, private, company E, 26 Inf., Sept. 24, 1864, scurvy. 
9739 G Dacy, private, company I, 12th Inf., Sept. 25th, 1864, diarrhea. 
9808 A Irwin, private, company C., 25th Inf., Sept. 26th, 1864, scurvy. 
9860 J Ftice, private, company G, 7th Inf., Sept. 27, 1864, scurvy, 
9802 S Patterson, Corp., company 1, 15th Inf., Sept. 27, 1864, scurvy. 
9938 J Wick, private, company H, 1st Cav., Sept. 23, 1864, diarrhea. 
9997 E Latgur, private, company A, 15th Inf., Sept. 29, 1864, scurvy. 

8 



68 



1U213 E Willis, Corp., company E, 7th Inf., Oct. 2, 1864, acurvy. 
10234 M Fagan, private, company G, lath Inf., Oct. 2. 1864, diarrhea. 
10289 S Myers, private, company I, lath Inf., Oct. 4, 1864, scurvy. 
10346 II Cronning, private, company C, 7th Inf., Oct. 5, 1864, scurvy. 
10369 WmNeff, private, company I. 3'>d Inf., Oct. 5, 1864, scurvy. 
10395 F Winchel, private, company 1), 17th Inf , Oct. 6, 1864, scurvy. 
10427 P Hanes, private, company D, 10th Inf., Oct. G, 1864, scurvy. 
10536 F Keane, Corporal, company E, 26th Inf., Oct. 8 1864, diarrhea. 
10685 H Britton. Sergeant, company B, 15th Inf., Oct. 11, 1864, scurvy. 

10691 11 Guuderson, Sergeant, company I, loth Inf, Oct. 11, 1864, scurvy. 

10692 H Knowles, private, company D, 2l3t Inf., Oct. 11, 1864, diarrhea. 
10752 C Ca.stle, private, company 0, 1st Cav., Oct. 12, 1864, scurvy. 
10771 John Davis, private, company B, 1st Inf., Oct. 12, 1864, scurvy. 
10830 P Adams, private, company A, 10th Inf., Oct. 13, 1864, scurvy. 
10919 N Robinson, private, company I, 15th Inf., Oct. 14, 1864, scurvy. 
11020 W Coburne, private, company A, 10th Inf., Oct. 16, 1864, scurvy. 
11037 S M Smith, Corporal, company F. 21st Inf.. Oct. 17, 1864, scurvy. 
11047 A D Sails, private, company K, 4th Cav.. Oct. 17, 1864, scurvy. 
11088 F Chusterson, private, company E, 15th Inf., Oct. IS, 1864, hemorhage. 
11284 AV H Johnson, private, company II, 6th Inf., Oct. 22, 1864, scurvy. 
11236 D Thurber, Corp., company G, 36th Inf., Oct. 21, 1864, diarrhea 
11323 H Worlfinger, private, company II, 12th Inf., Oct. 23, 1864, ecurvy. 
11390 F Voele, Corp., company E, 10th Inf., Oct. 24, 1864, scurvy. 

11420 E B Tyler, private, company F, 10th Inf., Oct. 24, 1864, scurvy. 
11443 C Holenbeck, private, company A, 13th Inf, Oct. 25, 1864, scurvy. 
11475 P Thorson, private, company G, 24th Inf., Oct. 26t, 1864, scurvy. 
11492 E V McArthy, CorpL. company E, 13th Inf., Oct. 26th, scurvy. 
11535 J Chamberlain, private, company I, 21st Inf., Oct. 27, scurvy. 
11545 F Ochle, private, company E. 26lh Inf., Oct. 27, 1864, scurvy. 
11610 L Batterson, private, company K, 10th Inf., Oct. 28th, 1864, diarrhea. 
11687 P EUenger, private, company K, 21st Inf.. Oct. 31, 1864, chronic 

diarrhea. 
11734 M Bvitler, private, company K. 10th Inf., Nov. 2, 18G4, scurvy. 
11744 W C Clark, private, company 0, 10th Inf., Nov. 2, 1864, scurvy. 
11812 J Rattles, private, company D, 25th Inf., Nov. 4, 1864, scurvy. 
11!)27 W Hanson, private, company B, 1st Inf., Nov. 8, 1864, scurvy, 
11931 M Olston. private, corjpmy B, 15th Inf., Nov. 9, 1864, diarrhea. 
11936 E Mulaskey, private, company B, 21st Inf., Nov. 9, 1864, scurvy. 
12032 R Blakely, private, company P, 17th Inf., Nov 14, 1864, scurvy. 
12111 M Whaleu, private, company B. 12th Inf., Nov. 24, 1864, dysentery. 
12167 N Harris, private, company D, 12th Inf., Nov. 26, 1864, dysenteiy. 
12233 B Richmond, Sergt., company L, 1st Cav., Dec. 6, 1864, dysentery. 



12i4vJ P I) llnndall, private, company K, 1st Inf., Dec. 7, 1861, scurvy. 
12288 II Enghert, private, company G, 36th Inf., Dec. 14, 1861, scurvy. 
12468 G Hand, private, company D, 10th Inf., Jan. 16, 1864, gangrene. 
12618 A Frost, private, company B, 7th Inf., Fcl) 8, 1864, gangrene. 
12626 A Ycssan. private, company A. 24tli Inf., Feb. 10, 1864, scurvey. 
12653 \V II Ferguson, private, company B, 24th Inf., 1864, diarrhea. 

lo728 Antone, private, company D, 31st Inf., March 4, 1864, diarrhea. 

12750 D r. David, private, company B, 25th Inf., March 8, 1864, gangrene. 

A Denmarlv, private, company A, 1st Cav. 

C. Merrill, private, company K, 4th Cav. 

J Richlin, private, company D, 1st Cav., Dec. 26, 18B4, dysentery. 

J Rice, private, company C, Ttli Inf. 

J Harvey, private, company G, 1st Inf. 

E S Hardy, Sergt., company E, 6th Inf., Feb. 4, lSt?4, diarrhea. 

L !> Cook, private, company C, 2d Cavalry. 



The foregoing list shows in the language of Capt. Wirz, "a 
fearful mortality. It further shows that Wisconsin furnished 
her full quota of Victims. 

These men of Wisconsin were tortured to death. In man}' 
cases in a manner too revolting to record. Who did this "deed 
without a name." One i^erson intimately connected with the 
management of aflfairs there, as before stated, declares that he 
ought not to be held responsible, that he was a mere tool in the 
hands of others. The investigation now going on will probably 
develop the guilty parties. 

The list of mortality of course does not show the full extent 
of Wisconsin calamity. Many of the prisoners not enumer- 
ated in the roll, (that being^ simply a list of the buried at Ander- 
sonville) died before they reached liome. Many died pretty short- 
ly after, many are now lingering out a miserable existence soon 
to end, and a large majority are more less constitutionally 
broken down. There is a fearful criminal responsibility resting 
somewhere which of course must soon be brought to light. Wis- 
consin in the name of her martyred sons will demand tliat the 
guilty parties be ferretted otit and punifihed. 



60 
MORE ABOUT ANDERSONVILLE. 



The i)risonei'S liad to resort to some occupation to pass a^vay 
time, and it soon became necessary to establish some police 
regulations for this large population. Characters of every grade 
■were to be found. It finally became necessary to establish 
courts of justice. In the way of occupation to pass away the 
weary hours, the men employed themselves in making from the 
beef bones, rings, toothpicks and trifles of ornament, all beino- 
done with no other instrument than the jack-knife, these were 
in great demand, the purchasers being confederates. A skillful 
workman could supply himself with tobacco and sundry other 
articles of necessity or convenience 1)y the manufacture of these 
and other ornamental trinkets. There is an inborn disposition 
in the American character to trade, traffic and grow rich, or fail 
in the attempt. This characteristic, notwithstanding the for- 
lorn condition of these unfortunates soon developed itself. 
Markets were established, barter commenced and pretty soon 
among these forlorn people quite a trade Avas established. It 
must not be understood that the successful business operator 
got rich in money. His highest ambition was to get an increased 
supply of provisions. The highest success attained b}'' which 
the successful industrious speculator Avas to get enough to live 
upon . 

The Northern Army has in its ranks men of all ranks, grades 
and profession. The Anderson\'ille prisons Avere an illustra- 
tion of this fact. If preaching Avas required a preacher Avas at 
hand. If a laAvyer Avas Avanted more than could be retained 
Avere instantly on hand. 

This city of horrors had in its borders a fair representation 
of all classes of people. The christian gentlemen Avas to be 
found there, and from him doAvn through grades and shades of 
character until pickpockets, thieves, robbers and murderers 



01 

wove included in the list of cli;ir;icters coiiiposiii_^ this coiumun- 
ity. 

The hist mentioned cliavacters followed their })Vofessions to 
such an extent that they become objects of terror to the whole 
community. They soon become designated and known by the 
name of Raiders'. They seemed to act in combinati(m or sep- 
arately as tlie case required. If any fellow prisoner was for- 
tunate enough to save any valuable thing cither in money or 
other personal property, these professionals seemed to find it 
out almost by instinct. The possesor of any valuable article 
was sure to become an object of interest to these precious scoun- 
drels, and if he did not become a victim he might bless his own 
good fortuate. These men were experts. They had evidently 
plied their professions before entering the army. They manu- 
factured instruments by which they could cut open a pocket 
without detection. They could relieve a man of his valuables 
in many cases without his knowledge while the victim was 
asleep, and if he (the victim) was awakened by the operation 
they knew how to silence him even if they had to go so far as 
murder. Their operations were finally carried to such an ex- 
tent that they became objects requiring same combined action 
to relieve the camp of their depredation. These men were gen- 
erally from large cities and at home would be known by the 
name of "Roughs." They numbered from one hundred and 
fifty to two hundred. When their conduct had become so noto- 
riously outrageous that forbearances ceased to be a virtue, their 
case was taken in hand by their fellow prisoners. 

The facts as far as ascertainable were collected and presented 
to Capt. AVirz who promptly arrested the culprits. A court 
was at once formed with judge and jury, Avhich proceeded to 
try them. It has been stated on good authority that tliis 
court in point of ability would compare favorably with any other 
court possessing or assuming the same powers. 

About 40 men were on trial. The proceedings were all in 



62 

Regular form, and the case given the jury in the regular form. 
Then the verdict -was given and the sentence followed. Some 
were sentenced to wear the hall and chain for ninety days and 
six were sentenced to hanged. The trial took place outside of 
the stockade and lasted three or four days. The condemned 
were in custody of Capt Wirz. When the time come for the 
execution of the condemned, Oapt. Wirz brought them under 
guard into the stockade and said, " Now poys you have tried 
these men by a jury of your own men, and a schudge of your 
own choosing, now you do schust what you please mit dem, 
and iijjmediately left the grounds. 

The result was that these men were shortly seen dangling 
between heaven and cartli in accordance with the sentence of 
the court. 



MR. PITT'S RELATION TO THE WITNESS HOGAN 
IN HIS TRIAL. 

Pitt had the good fortune to be detailed as ward master in 
the general hospital, which to some extent relieved him of his 
miseries, and gave him opportunity to more minutely observe 
the progress of matters and things. 

Martin E. llogan, of Terre Haute, Indiana, of the oth New 
York Cavalry, was chief steward. This brought him and Pitt 
in daily contact, and made them acquaintanees and friends, 
and when Hogan finally made his escape Pitt became his suc- 
cessor in office. 

The following testimony, which Hogan has given in the trial 
of Wirz, will show his eifort to escape at that time, an*d with 
some explanations of the case by Pitt will present Mr. Hogan 
in the light of being a determined unflinching hero. His tes- 
timony in the coui't is as follows: 

Martin E. Hogan testifie<l as to his having been a prisoner 



68 . 

at Andersonville. The men there Avere in a miserable condition ; 
as bad as possibly could be. As to hounds, he was brought 
back to prison by their agency. He had seen Captain Wirz 
with hounds trying to strike the track of an escaped prisoner 
for attempting to escape from prison about the 8th of October, 
1804. 

After the most obscene abuse from Captain Wirz he was 
fastened by the neck and feet, and remained there sixty-eight 
hours; he heard Wirz give orders that he should not have food, 
but he did get food from some paroled comrades Avho stole it for 
him. He had seen these comrades put in the stocks at the 
same time. One man was put in because he asserted his man- 
hood by resenting the abuse of a confederate soldier. When 
the prisoners were being removed from Andersonville to Millen 
the witness saw Captain Wirz take a man by the collar because 
he could not walk faster. The man was so worn by disease 
that he could not walk. Throwing the man on his back, he 
stamped on him with his feet. He saw the man bleeding, and 
he died a short time after. In the dissecting room he saw 
students in the pursuit of knowledge sawing open the skulls of 
deceased prisoners and opening the bodies. When Hfe escaped 
he took with him a knife to protect himself from harm if neces- 
sary. It was a confederate surgeon's knife which he had taken 
without leave. His companions who attempted to escape were 
provided with revolvers. Several rounds were fired at the party , 
who first pursued and who were sending the dogs after them . He 
was put in the stocks for personal revenge, because he tried to 
escape. The papers he signed before he attempted to escape 
he did not consider a parole of honor— he did not know what 
he was signih'r. 

Pitt was one of the men to aid llogan. At peril of being 
put into the stocks himself, if discovered, he managed to furnish 
Hogan with a blanket and sundry other comforts. 

When Hogan, after his capture, was brought before Captain 
Wirz, that dignitary assumed a very furious attitude, and made 



, 64 

all manner of threats, hut after awhile he softened down and 
said, in his usual tone, " Noav Hogan, you sees you can't 
escape Captain Wirz. I prints you pack every time. Now, if 
I puts you not in the stocks, and parole you, will you give me 
your word of honor that you will not run away again V To 
which Hogan replied that he would endeavor to escape "as 
long as he had breath in his body." This enraged Wirz to an 
indescribable degree. lie replied: "You tarn Yankee upstart, 
I show you what you're about. I put you in the stocks. I give 
you no rations. I keep you there till you die." 

As is shewn in the testimony, he was placed in the stocks, 
and probably would luivo died Init for the kind interposition of 
true friends. 

Pitt Avas detailed on the 2Tth of April to service in the 
small-pox hospital, which was about a half mile from the pen. 
One day he had a personal intervicAV with Captain Wirz, under 
circumstances which may seem romantic enough in narration, 
but at the time of their occurrence caused in his mind many 
painful apprehensions. His own stateinent of the case is as 
follows: 

One day, as I Avas aAvay some distance from the small-pox 
hospital, picking berries, the hounds followed my track, and, as 
Iliad no immediate Avay of escape, I climbed a tree. The hounds 
Avere called off, and I descended to terra firma, I did not get bit 
for Turner Avas not Avith them, but a couple of the 55th Georgia. 
I Avas conducted to Capt. Wirz head quarters A\ho immediately 
ordered me to the stockade, but Dr. Shepperd being present in- 
terceded for me. Wirz Avas bound to send me to the stockade, 
but Dr. Shepperd protested against it, they had quite an alter- 
cation in nearly the folloAving. 

Capt. Wirz. — Take that Yank to the stockade. 

Dr. Shepperd. — He Avent by my orders, and shall not be sent 
to the stockade. 



Co 

Capt. W. — I euininan<I this prir^on, nwl shuU siiid him Nslicre 
I tam please. 

Dr. S. — I out rank you. Billy is uiulev my diari:!', and 
shall not be sent inside. 

AV. — (lot tam pretty D)\ you are, xon takes sides with the 
yank, you not true to the confederacy. 

Dr. S. — (turnin^^• to me) Billy go to your (juartej's. 

The guards wei-e standing in the doorway ami I could not 
obey the doctors agreea])le command, they t;ilked for sometime 
till the doctor looking round saw me standing near him and 
said. Bill}' if you don't go to your quarters I will send you to 
the stocka<le myself, that ■was enough foi- me, guai'ds or m* 
guards and so 1 made myself scarce, no rusty looking reb 
could guard me any longer, 1 went to my shant}^ and thanked 
God on my knees for his goodness toward me and Doctor 
Sheppard for interceding in my behalf and preventing me fi"om 
returning into the charnel house of the South. The conse- 
quence Avas I obtained a pass to go two miles in every direc- 
tion from camp, Dr. S. was a very humane and good man to 
suffering men, he Avas in the rebel ranks at Chanccllorville doing 
duty as a private for lo months, and 73 years old. 

. CONCLUSION. 



The Parole — the Captives set free — Departi:j:e from 
Dixie — Home, Sweet Home. 



The writer has abstained as far as possible from going into 
the minute details of the loathsome sufterings of our prison- 
ers at Andersonville. The pen almost refuses to record the 
particulars of their distressing scenes, and but few readers 
■would like to peruse them. 

It is believed that the map will fully explain itself, there- 



fore vrc do not deem it necessary to go into further explanation. 
There had constantly been rumors of parole in eirculation 
for a lon,2; time, but they all proved gfoundlcs?, and the prison- 
ers after a Avliile began to place but little faith in them. Each 
one as it came raiscil some hope which was soon to be followed 
by sad disappointment, but on the ITth of March, I860, the 
orders were ascertained to be a fixed fact. The prisoners were 
ordered to fall in and to their delight they found they were 
'•' home-ward bound."' But here began a scene, many of the 
sick and emaciated could not rotich the cars, others could with 
all their pln^sical exertion expended manage to get there and 
would then fall down exhausted. Many a man was to be seen 
carrying his friend and coanrade on his back. All had the most 
extreme anxiety to get started for "Home Sweet Home." 

'' Wlio lias not fe^lt how sadly sweet 

The dream of home, the dream of home. 
Steal o'er the heart, too soon to fleet, 

When far o'er sea or land we roam ? 

Sunlight more soft may o'er us fM, 

To greener shores ovir bark may come; 
But far more briy;ht, more dear than all, 

Thit dream of home, ih;it dre im of home.'" 

liow intensified Uiust have been the emotions of these poor 
victims as compared witli those whose case is indicated in the 
fore^oincr lines. Some in their exertions to reach the cars soon 
expired; others died along the route. 

The destination of the Western prisoners was St. Louis, 
which they readied by the following route: Ilailroad to Mont- 
gomery, Ala.; dov\'n the Alabama River to Selma, about one 
hundred and fifty miles; from Selma to Thermopolis; up the 
Tombigbee River to McDoweiTs Landing; then by railroad to 
Jackson, Miss. ; from .Jackson they were marched about thirty. 
six miles to the Big Black River; from there by rail to Cump 
risk, four miles from "\'icksburg, where they campe.l three 
weeks. 



At this point Mrs. Gov. llarvuv visiteil the camp and fur- 
nished in a liberal manner writing paper, news papers, books, 
combs, brushes, towels, razors and all manner of little conven- 
iences which were very highly appreciated by the men. 

It is also believed that through her influence the men pro- 
cured vegetables, such as onions, potatoes, etc. From Yicks- 
burg the prisoners went by steamer to St. Louis, arriving at 
Benton Barracks the 2-l:th day of April. After two weeks 
detention there the prisoners got furloughs for home. 

Anderson was received with such hearty demonstrations when 
he was discovered in the cars of the road on which he had so 
long been employed, that some of the more timid of the pas- 
sengers half suspected that the train had been siezed by guer- 
illas. 

lie soon took his former })ositioii where he is now at work. 

Pitt on his arrival at home was warmly welcome and received 
by his numerous friends, but some domestic afflictions dimin- 
ished in a large degree his enjoyment on the occasion. 






^^z^-/ c^.iAy)r./Myr 



NINETEEN MONTHS 

A PRISONER OF WAR 

%x{ the ^aiibs of i\t lebels : 



EXPERIENCE AT BELLE ISLE, 

Ri^iiMoi. Di\iiLLE \m mwmmui\ 



SOME ITEMS WITH REFERENCE TO y<-{ OF Cr)7 



CA_1^T. WIT-vZ, 4^^°^Y^'-2HT 

VVITU A '\-',-'-. , , >■ 



MAP OF THE ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP, 
CALLED CAMP SUMTER. 



Eiitf red !ii;coiUiiitc *" Act nf (Jun^rcss. in the year IStiJ. l>.r 

WILLIAM C. PITT, 

in the ClerU\ Office nf the District. Court of the United States, for the 

District of Wisconsin. 



A 



,- 1 



1 



2-^ D ti 



MILWAUKEE 

STARR t SOS. P.1INTERS, 412 AND -U4 EAST WATER STEEBT. 

ISGG, 



S<r- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




III lllllllllilllil 

003 860 799 6 



